All trains in the Netherlands currently run entirely on wind energy. Screenshot courtesy of NS/YouTube In the Netherlands, trains were supposed to run 100% on renewable energy by 2018. Officials, however, appear to have been able to beat that goal by a year.
Is it true that Dutch trains only run on the wind?
In the event of a “It’s not often that a post pops off the page in the “anything goes” era of news and social media. However, a recent piece of electricity-related news attracted my eye. The headline reads: “Trains in the Netherlands are now powered entirely by wind.”
Of course, we’ve seen similar headlines before. Burlington, Vermont, for example, was the first city to declare that it would run entirely on renewable energy in 2015. Of course, this is correct. Hydropower imported from all across the region is Burlington’s primary source of electricity. A big biomass plant also provides nearly a third of the city’s power. The rest comes from wind and solar power, which account for around a quarter of the city’s electricity. In other words, the two oldest sources of renewable energy, water and wood, are bearing the brunt of Burlington’s renewable achievement, rather than the ones that people might think of when they read the headline.
Is there anything further that needs to be said concerning the claims made about the trains in the Netherlands? Yes, absolutely.
The assertion made by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the Dutch railway network, is almost purely a ruse. Indeed, according to an analysis by Energy Matters, the electrified area of NS is primarily powered by coal and natural gas.
“According to author Roger Andrews, “NS claims 100 percent wind power since it has a contract with several wind farms to supply enough energy to operate its rail system, but this is purely an accounting transaction.” “Wind power accounts for only a small portion of the total power given to its trains.”
What’s the gimmick here? Wind power accounts for about a tenth of all electricity consumed in the Netherlands, with some of it imported. However, none of this wind energy is connected directly to the NS train system. Even the two Dutch wind farms with which NS has direct wind power contracts, Noordoostpolder and Luchterduinen, are connected to the Dutch grid rather than the NS rail system.
Furthermore, it has been discovered that approximately half of the electricity used by NS to operate its rail system is generated outside of the Netherlands. Wind power is generated in several of the countries that send electricity to NS, such as Germany, Belgium, and Finland, although only in small volumes. That means that part of the electrons moving across international boundaries to help power the NS railway system come from wind power, but non-wind sources account for a significantly bigger portion.
“Putting these numbers together, wind will account for only 10-15% of the electricity consumed annually by NS’s electric trains, with the rest coming from a mix of Dutch gas and coal, as well as a small amount of Belgian and German coal, nuclear, and lignite and possibly even a little German solar,” Andrews explains.
When questioned about this claim, NS emphasized that only the electrified section of its system is entirely powered by wind. This accounts for roughly two-thirds of the system. However, even two-thirds of the NS system is not operational “totally” reliant on wind energy The electrons that power the NS system’s electrified part originate from a variety of sources, including wind, coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. The truth is that determining the source of electrons that move NS trains down the track is impossible. It’s obvious that the majority of those electrons didn’t come from wind turbines.
Of fact, there are numerous reasons for NS to claim that its trains run entirely on wind power, and even more reasons for people to applaud this seeming success. People respond positively to headlines like this. To many, it appears to be progress. But, let’s be honest, let’s be honest. The evidence is self-evident. Claims that Dutch trains run solely on wind energy are completely false.
In Holland, do windmills power trains?
The trains in the Netherlands are powered entirely by wind energy, which is unsurprising. After all, the country is known around the world for its beautiful windmills! Windmills were first used to generate energy to pump water or crush grain. Turbines now dot the landscape, producing electricity to assist Dutch commuters in getting to work.
Since January 1, 2017, all of the electric trains operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), one of the country’s national railway companies, have been powered by wind energy. For several years, they had been collaborating with Eneco, a Dutch “sustainable energy supplier,” to make this happen.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, they also met their objective of using 100% renewable energy a year ahead of schedule. And the country’s brilliance doesn’t end there!
According to the Global Wind Energy Council, between January and December 2015, record-breaking turbines capable of generating 586 MW of power were erected. Then, in 2016, a 700 MW offshore wind farm in Borssele became the most ‘cost-effective’ in the world, bringing Dutch wind back into the spotlight. NS and Eneco were able to meet their aim so far ahead of time thanks to their previous accomplishments.
The quantity of electricity required to run these trains is also not insignificant. On a daily basis, NS runs roughly 5,500 train trips. The company transports 600,000 people each day and uses 1.2 billion kWh of electricity per year. This is enough electricity to power all of the homes in Amsterdam, the country’s capital. The idea that they can generate so much energy solely from wind is enormous!
The electricity sent to the train powers the train’s lighting, air conditioning, and traction motors, which spin the train’s wheels. NS is the world’s first rail company to run its whole fleet on renewable energy. According to the firms, one hour of wind turbine operation can power a train for 120 kilometers.
The Netherlands has more than 2,000 wind turbines scattered out across the country. The energy generated by these wind turbines is enough to power 2.4 million homes. We are in the midst of a renewable energy revolution, and the Netherlands is one of the top countries leading by example.
In the Netherlands, are all trains electric?
The national railway operator of the Netherlands, NS, has announced that all of its electric passenger trains are now powered entirely by wind energy. NS originally set a goal for a wind-powered train fleet in 2015, but they’ve already achieved it a year ahead of schedule, well ahead of their 2018 deadline.
Can a train be powered by a windmill?
The Netherlands has always had a love affair with wind energy, as evidenced by their magnificent windmills. Wind, which was once used to pump water or crush grain, is now assisting Dutch commuters in getting to work. Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), one of their national railway firms, stated earlier this week that all of its electric trains had been running on wind energy since January 1st.
For numerous years, they have collaborated with Eneco, a’sustainable energy supplier’ based in the Netherlands. By January 2018, they hoped to have all NS trains running on wind-generated electricity. “As a result, we were able to achieve our goal a year ahead of schedule,” spokesman Ton Boon told AFP. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, turbines capable of generating 586 MW of power were constructed between January and December, setting a new record for the country’s wind industry. In 2016, Dutch wind made news once more when a 700 MW offshore windfarm near Borssele became the world’s most ‘cost-effective’. These wind farms, as well as those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Finland, aided NS and Eneco in meeting their goal so far ahead of schedule.
In the Netherlands, how do trains work?
In Holland, you can travel by rail using a single-use chipcard or an OV-chipkaart (smart card). For sporadic travelers, the single-use chipcard is ideal. It’s available for purchase at any NS ticketing machine or service desk. Chipcards for single usage are always 1 euro more per journey. You are not required to charge the card with credit, but you must check in and out.
We recommend purchasing a ‘anonymous OV-chipkaart’ if you expect to ride the railway frequently while in Holland. They are available for purchase at NS ticketing machines or the service desk. For an anonymous OV-chipkaart, there is a one-time cost of EUR 7.50. (which can also be used on buses, trams, metros and ferries). You must charge credit to your anonymous OV-chipkaart prior to traveling, which can be done at an NS ticking machine. If you want to travel by train, your OV-chipkaart must have at least 20 euros in credit! Every trip must start with a check-in and end with a check-out. On the station, look for the OV-chipkaart pillars.
In the Netherlands, how many wind turbines are there?
There were at least 2,525 onshore wind turbines in operation at the end of 2015, generating a total of 3,000 megawatts (MW) of power. This amounts to about 5% of the overall demand in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands must have 6,000 MW of onshore wind capacity by 2020. The Energy Agreement for Sustainable Growth specifies this. This means that capacity will have to be boosted by more than 3,000 MW. With an average capacity of 2 to 3 MW, the Netherlands will require between 1,000 and 1,500 additional onshore wind turbines.
What is the average speed of Dutch trains?
Hanzelijn (English: Hanseatic line) is a high-speed railway line in the Netherlands that runs for 50 kilometers (31 miles). It connects Lelystad, the provincial capital of Flevoland, with Zwolle, the provincial capital of Overijssel, and provides a direct train link between Flevoland and the Netherlands’ north-east. The line’s top speed is 200 km/h (124 mph), yet no domestic rolling stock in the Netherlands can go faster than 160 km/h (99 mph). The line speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) can only be obtained by freeing the line for international trains.
With the Hanzelijn’s completion in 2012, Zwolle became the Netherlands’ second-most important railway junction. The Intercity Nieuwe Generatie (ICNG), a new type Dutch train, will begin service on the HSL-Zuid track in 2023, connecting Breda with Rotterdam, Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam Zuid, Lelystad, Zwolle, Groningen, and Leeuwarden. This new train will be capable of reaching 200 km/h on the BredaSchiphol HSL-Zuid line and the LelystadZwolle Hanzelijn stretch, instead of the current 160 km/h. The current direct trains from Breda to Zwolle take 2h 21m and pass through’s-Hertogenbosch. If you transfer at Rotterdam Centraal, the current fastest route is up to 8 minutes faster. The new HSL-Zuid-based direct route from Breda to Zwolle eliminates the need for a transfer. The entire journey time should be reduced by about 30 minutes.
Is NS a for-profit corporation?
The Board of Directors is in charge of the company. The Board of Commissioners is in charge of oversight. These bodies are autonomous from one another. The General Assembly of Shareholders is responsible for both bodies’ work (“General Assembly”). NS Groep NV is the parent business of NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
Shareholder
The NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen is owned entirely by the Dutch government. The Ministry of Finance plays the role of the company’s shareholder. The General Assembly is subject to the mitigated structural regime as well as the Articles of Association.
Organisation of the company
The Board of Directors is ultimately accountable for NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen and its companies as a whole. The Nederlandse Spoorwegen’s activities are grouped into three categories: passenger transport, hub development and exploitation, and rail infrastructure and construction.
Is there a metro system in Amsterdam?
In Amsterdam, I used the metro. The metro system in Amsterdam extends from Central Station to the city’s outskirts. Its four roads are frequently the quickest path to districts such as Bijlmer, Amstelveen, and Diemen.