The fall of the cabinet creates uncertainty about ensuring the resolution of grid congestion and security of supply. Industry organizations in the energy sector are calling on the Lower House to continue taking decisions on these topics. Earlier this week, the wind energy sector sounded the alarm due to the standstill in the construction of offshore wind farms. In the meantime, the oil price is taking a step up, despite the production increase of OPEC+.
Last Friday (May 30), the oil price had fallen to $62,78 per barrel, while at the time of writing (Wednesday afternoon, June 4) it was $65,16 per barrel.
OPEC+ announced last weekend that they will continue to increase oil production in July, pumping an additional 411.000 barrels per day. This normally has a price-lowering effect, but forest fires are raging in Canada, hampering oil production there. The uncertainty about global trade tariffs also continues to play a role in the background. In this context, the conversation that US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are reportedly going to have this week is being eagerly awaited.
Diesel price
The diesel price also takes a step up, from €116,98 per 100 litres (from 4.000 litres) on Friday 30 May to €118,38 per 100 litres on Wednesday 4 June.
gas price
On a weekly basis, the gas price has changed little, from €35,999 per MWh on Thursday 29 May to €35,840 per MWh on Wednesday 4 June. Last week there was an outage at the important Norwegian Troll gas field which caused the price to rise.
Electricity price
Electricity fluctuates in price as usual, but last week it remained fairly stable on the EPEX spot market. There were relatively few major peaks and troughs as a daily average. The lowest point was €40,32 per MWh on Sunday 1 June and the highest point was €83,85 on 2 June.
Fear for security of supply due to fall of cabinet
Organisations involved in the energy transition are urging the House of Representatives to continue making decisions in this area after the fall of the cabinet. Energie-Nederland fears that the fall of the cabinet will delay 'measures that must guarantee the security of supply and affordability of energy'. The industry organisation therefore calls on the Lower House not to declare the files that are essential for the energy transition controversial. "A caretaker cabinet means delays in decision-making and legislation, while now we need to make progress", according to chair Cora van Nieuwenhuizen in the appeal. "If these files are put on hold for another year, the transition, the security of energy supply and affordability for households and businesses will be unnecessarily further compromised."
The Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE) also calls on the Lower House 'to continue with legislation and regulations for the energy transition'. The trajectories that, according to the association, must definitely continue are: the implementation of the renewable energy directive, the Collective Heat Act, the opening of the SDE++, the weight correction for electric cars, the rollout of offshore wind energy and the plans against grid congestion. According to Netbeheer Nederland, 'nothing that relates to the energy system should be declared controversial'.
'Construction of wind farms threatens to come to a standstill'
Companies and organisations in the wind energy sector have called on the government this week to keep the construction of offshore wind farms going because it is in danger of coming to a standstill. According to them, it is less attractive to build wind turbine parks in the Netherlands than in other countries. Due to increased costs, construction has also become less attractive. The companies want price agreements on the electricity to be purchased. The demand for green electricity must also be stimulated and subsidies should be provided.