A fundamental change is needed in the energy sector to cope with growing demand, rising prices and increasing CO2 emissions says the government in its Energy Report which was presented to parliament on Wednesday.

The report sets out the government’s vision for the transition to renewable energy in the 2050.
Economic affairs minister Maria van der Hoeven said she will change the law to allow profits from the country’s natural gas reserves to be used to develop sustainable forms of energy. €1bn annually will be available for renewable energy.
In total almost €7.5bn will be invested in energy in the period 2008 to 2011, the government said.
The government said no form of power generation will be rejected out of hand in the coming decades. And although the current government will not make a decision on the building of new nuclear power stations, the report says that the issue must be resolved during the formation period of the next cabinet.
According to the Financieele Dagblad, the report gives the go ahead to the development of three different scenarios for the future of nuclear power: no new plants; replacement of the Borssele plant in 2033 or to begin building new plants from 2020.