Gas consumption in the Netherlands stabilised in 2024 after years of decline, according to new figures from national statistics agency CBS.

In total, industry and private households used approximately 30 billion cubic meters of gas last year. This follows two years of sharp reductions, driven by soaring prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The decline was particularly significant in 2022, when usage dropped by 25%. In 2023, consumption fell by a further 5%.

Less gas was required to generate electricity last year, because of the growth in solar and wind energy, the CBS said. However, private households did increase their gas usage 3.3% in 2024 due to the cold winter.

Meanwhile, sales of solar panels in the Netherlands have “collapsed,” according to figures from DNE Research and trade publication Solar365. Researchers attribute this decline to lower energy prices and changes in the compensation system for homeowners feeding excess electricity back into the grid.

Solar capacity grew by 3.4 gigawatts in 2024, compared to five gigawatts in 2023. However, among private households, new capacity dropped by 50%, according to DNE Research.

In addition, the market is nearing saturation, with one in three Dutch households now equipped with solar panels and the availability of suitable rooftops diminishing.