Issue Mounting pressure on scarce physical space

Summary

The report finds that the energy transition has major spatial consequences for the Netherlands. Room is needed for solar parks, wind turbines, heat networks, energy grids, charging points and storage facilities in both built-up and rural areas, and several layers of government are involved in planning them. Competition with other uses such as nature, agriculture and housing will intensify, and conflicts over land use may increase. Some regions can switch quickly and benefit, while regions with many fossil, energy-intensive firms, such as Groningen in the north-east and Zeeland in the south-west, are more exposed to structural change, and central urban regions with concentrated services and innovation capacity have a larger buffer against transition shocks. The report expects pressure on physical space to rise further in the coming years because of housing construction, business premises for the circular economy and other uses, energy transition facilities, data centres and infrastructure for better accessibility.