Some 40% more electricity from sustainable sources was generated in the Netherlands last year, mainly due to an increase in the use of solar panels, according to preliminary figures from national statistics agency CBS.

The increase means some 25% of the energy used here last year came from renewable sources in the Netherlands itself. In 2019, the percentage was 18%.

Wind turbines accounted for 45% of the total, biomass for 29% and solar panels 26%.

The future of biomass, which accounted for 9 billion kWh of the total green energy production of 31 billion kWh, is currently being questioned.

Biomass – particularly wood chips – is highly controversial and an increasing number of organisations now say it is not a sustainable source of energy and should not be subsidised by the government.