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THE NETHERLANDS

(updated on Mar. 2009)

1.  ENERGY, ECONOMIC AND ELECTRICITY INFORMATION

1.1.  General Overview

The Netherlands is a small, mostly low-lying country in north-west Europe situated on the North Sea shore (coastline of over 450 km) with a maritime climate. With a total land area of about 42000 square kilometres, the Netherlands is similar in size to Switzerland, Denmark of New Jersey. With over 16 million inhabitants, the Netherlands has the 25th highest population density in the world and the highest density in the OECD. The country’s annual population growth rate is 0,21%.(Table 1).

The Netherlands is the "Gateway to Europe" for trade and distribution, with harbours in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The industrial sector is driven in large part by food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining and electrical machinery. Since hydrocarbons were discovered in the middle of the last century, the country has had significant production of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas.


TABLE 1. POPULATION INFORMATION

  1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008
Population (millions) 13 14.1 14,9 15.9 16.3 16.3 16.4 16.4
Population density (inhabitants/km2) 384 415 439 468 483 483 484 484
Urban population (% of total) 61.7 64.7 68.7 76.8 80.2 80.7 81  
Area(1000 km2)           33.8 33.8 33.8

 Source:Statistics Netherlands

         
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20394948~menuPK:1192714~pagePK:

64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419~isCURL:Y,00.html

1.1.1.  Economic Indicators

In 2007, Netherlands' Total Gross Production was 1,664 billion guilders. Gross Domestic Product amounted to 883 billion guilders, while domestic consumption was 641 billion guilders and total domestic investments amounted to 200 billion guilders. Gross domestic growth rate was 4%. The historical growth rates are shown in Table 2.


TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

annual

growth

rate(%)

 

1970

1980

1990

2000

2005

2006

 

2000

to

2006

GDP (billion 2000 US$ using exch. rates)
166.4
223.9
282
385.1
409
421.3
 

9.3

GDP (millions of constant 2000 US$)

174 435.7

232 573.1

290 194.2

386 510.5

403 042.3

414 730.5

 

1.2

GDP per capita (current US$)

2 830.4

13 128.8

20 558.0

24 270.0

38 248.0

40 167.1

 

8.8

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

1.1.2.  Energy Situation

Historically, domestic gas production has played a key role in ensuring the Netherlands and European energy security. Domestic reserves and production are now in decline, but the Netherlands wishes to maintain a leading role in European gas markets through enhanced gas trading and by providing gas flexibility through increased storage capacity. The Netherlands has the ambition of becoming a gas hub roundabout in north-western Europe.

After the USA, the Russian Federation, Canada, the UK, Algeria, Iran and Indonesia, the Netherlands is the world's eighth biggest producer of natural gas (Table 3). Total energy consumption in the Netherlands consists of natural gas (48.2%), oil (35.2%), coal (10.9%), and nuclear energy (1.3%) and renewable energy resources (3.4%).

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED ENERGY RESERVES

  Estimated energy reserves in (*) (Solid and Liquid in million tons, Uranium in metric tons, Gas in billion cubic metres, Hydro in TWhr per year)
  Solid (1) Liquid (2) Gas (3) Uranium (4) Hydro (5)
Amount 497 15,000 1,756 .. ..
 

(*) Sources: 20th WEC Survey of Energy Resources, 2004 and Uranium 2005: Resources, Production and Demand ("Red Book")
(1) Coal including Lignite: proved recoverable reserves, the tonnage within the proved amount in place that can be recovered in the future under present and expected local economic conditions with existing available technology
(2) Crude oil and natural gas liquids (Oil Shale, Natural Bitumen and Extra-Heavy Oil are not included): proved recoverable reserves, the quantity within the proved amount in place that can be recovered in the future under present and expected local economic conditions with existing available technology
(3) Natural gas: proved recoverable reserves, the volume within the proved amount in place that can be recovered in the future under present and expected local economic conditions with existing available technology
(4) Reasonably Assured Resources (RAR) under < USD 130/kgU
(5) Hydropower: technically exploitable capability, the amount of the gross theoretical capability that can be exploited within the limits of current technology
Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.
 

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS

(Energy values are in Exajoule exept where indicated) Annual Average
Growth Rate (%)
Total Energy Requirements 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 1980 to 2000 2000 to 2004
Total 2.09 2.96 2.91 3.13 3.34 3.39 0.29 1.98
Solids 0.21 0.16 0.45 0.33 0.36 0.35 3.73 1.52
Liquids 1.16 1.13 0.95 1.03 1.16 1.17 -0.48 3.11
Gases 0.72 1.61 1.43 1.61 1.67 1.71 0.02 1.43
Hydro .. .. < 0.01 < 0.01 < 0.01 < 0.01 .. -9.56
Nuclear < 0.01 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 -0.63 -0.64
Other Renewables and Waste > -0.01 < 0.01 0.04 0.12 0.11 0.12 13.37 1.49
 
Final Energy Consumption 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 1980 to 2000 2000 to 2004
Total 0.80 1.55 1.22 2.01 2.07 2.10 1.31 1.20
Solids 0.09 0.04 .. 0.03 0.03 0.04 -1.88 10.13
Liquids 0.05 0.19 0.40 0.47 0.50 0.50 4.75 1.75
Gases 0.54 1.11 0.81 1.05 1.08 1.08 -0.27 0.54
Electricity 0.12 0.20 .. 0.35 0.36 0.37 2.80 1.30
Other .. .. < 0.01 0.10 0.10 0.11 .. 2.08
 
Net Energy Balance (Export-Import) 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 1980 to 2000 2000 to 2004
Total 1.200 -0.088 0.648 1.342 1.403 1.100 ? -4.85
Solids 0.074 0.156 0.425 0.337 0.376 0.343 3.93 0.43
Liquids 1.527 1.548 1.295 1.736 1.720 1.855 0.58 1.67
Gases -0.398 -1.790 -1.107 -0.800 -0.754 -1.156 -3.95 9.66
Other Renewables and Waste -0.002 -0.001 0.034 0.068 0.061 0.058 ? -3.90
 

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

 

1.2.  Energy Policy

The Netherlands energy policy strives for a clean, affordable and reliable energy system.

In December 2007, the Dutch government released its white paper on the Clean & Efficient programme, which lays out the national climate policy framework. Under this programme, the government has established four primary targets:

·        Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from the 1990 level by 2020;

·        Increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix by 20% by 2020;

·       Achieving annual energy efficiency improvements of 2% by 2020

·        Making a big step in the transistion towards a more sustainable energy system by 2020.

 

Another key policy document is the Energy Report [7], released by the Dutch government in June 2008 and which lays out the government’s energy strategy through 2011 and a long term vision to 2050. It calls for a clean, affordable and reliable energy system. It also sees the need for energy cooperation, technical breakthroughs, changes in behaviour and adjustments to the energy infrastructure if a sustainable energy supply is to be developed for the long term. The Energy Report 2008 also foresees further development of the Netherlands  as a hub for energy and other imports, especially natural gas. Policies of industry and energy innovation make up a critical piece of the government policy framework. Under its innovation agenda the government plans to provide €99 million in 2008-2011 for R&D and demonstration projects and other innovation activities.

Some of the aspects of the government’s outlook to 2050 are:

·        Expansion of smaller-scale energy technologies, including renewables;

·        Expansion of coal-fired power plants with carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS);

·     Development of a new generation of nuclear power stations;

·        Transition from passenger vehicles fuelled by gasoline and diesel to those fuelled by electricity, biofuels or hydrogen;

·        Substantial reduction in th energy needs of buildings;

·        Development of more sustainable heat for use in industry.

As far a nuclear energy is concerned, the government has decided  that, during their term of office, which normally will end spring 2011, no decisions on new nuclear power plants will be made. However, as a result of the increasing urgency of the climate problem and scarcity of energy sources, the government has indicated that thinking about nuclear energy in the future fuel mix must not come to a standstill,  With a view to decision making by the next Government, three scenarios regarding the potential role of nuclear power will be elaborated, including transparent and consistent preconditions.

Additionally, the government has developed an Energy transition framework to achieve transition to a more sustainable energy future for the period up to 2020. Energy transition is implemented in cooperation with market participants, scientific and civil organisations and governmental agencies.

Developing carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technologies is one of the government priorities. The government finances R&D in this area although it has postponed a decision on allocating funding for storage because of NIMBY”(not in my backyard) concerns.

1.3.  The Electricity System

1.3.1.  Structure of the electricity sector

The Dutch electricity sector began the process of market liberalisation in the late 1990s. Prior to this, the market had been dominated by four companies that operated together through a joint-stock company SEP. SEP’s primary role was to coordinate electricity production and planning of new plants. It was dissolved in 2001.

At the end of 2008 the five largest producers of electricity in the Netherlands are Electrabel, Essent, Nuon, E.ON Benelux an Delta, which together manage over 70% of the installed capacity. NPP Borssele is owned by Elektriciteitsproduktiemaatschappij Zuid-Nederland (EPZ) which is a 50/50 joint venture of Delta and Essent.

In addition there are a lot of smaller companies active in the market.

The country’s transmission system operator (TSO), TenneT, was established in 1998. At present, TenneT is ownership-unbundled from other parts of the supply chain and fully owned by the State. It is responsible for ensuring the stability and reliability of the electricity grid, carrying our load balancing in the Dutch system and with neighbouring countries, and maintaining the high-voltage grid in good condition to allow access and maximum capacity use. TenneT is also the majority owner (74,5%) of APX, the short-term tradinig exchange for gas and electricity.

Following market liberalisation the four original generators continued to dominate the market, although there has been significant new entry and two of the four were acquired by foreign utilities.

The retail market was fully liberalised on 1 July 2004, with all retail customers free to chose their own electricity supplier. At the same time, legal unbundling of supply and distribution network operations was instituted.

1.3.2.  Decision making Process

Concerning the construction of new electricity generation, there are no specific requirements to be fulfilled by applicants. The Netherlands operates a system of authorization. For all construction purposes the same authorization procedure applies. The ministry of Economic Affairs has no role to play in this procedure. Depending on the scale of the project, the authorizations needed are being dealt with either by the Ministry of Housing and Environment or by lower authorities.

The Dutch regulator for electricity is the Office of Energy Regulation (Energiekamer), which is a separate chamber of the Netherlands Competition authority (Nederlandse Mededingingsautoriteit, NMa).

De Energiekamer is charged with regulation and oversight duties stemming from the Electricity and Gas Act.

De Energiekamer is responsible a.o. for:

-    issuing supply licenses for the supply of electricity and gas to captive consumers;

-    Determining tariff structures and conditions for the transmissions of electricity;

-    Determining guidelines for tariffs and conditions with regard to access to gas transmission pipelines and gas storage installations and, if    necessary, issuing binding instructions

-   Determining transmission tariffs for electricity and gas, including the discount aimed ar promoting the efficient operation of the electricity grid and gas networks;

-   Supervision of compliance with th eEletricity and Gas Act.

1.3.3.  Main Indicators

Capacity

The Netherlands total installed power generating capacity is about 23 GW in 2006. Three-fourths of capacity comes from steam turbines and combined heat and power (CHP). Renewables account for over 7 % of total capacity but provided only 3% of total generation in 2006. Nuclear capacity is slightly over 2 % of the total but because of iths high capacity factor, the share of nuclear in total generation was 3.5 % in 2006 and around 4 % in 2007.

Significant new generatinig capacity (over 13 GW) has been proposed to come on line from now to 2014, although not all proosed projects will be completed.

Electricity generation

Power generation in the Netherlands is dominated by natural gas, which has almost 60% share in 2007. Natural gas has fuelled more than half of the Netherlands electricity generation since the early 1980s – down from nearly three-quarters in the 1970s. Just over a quarter of generation comes from coal. With respect to renewables, over 5% comes form biomass, with less than 4 % from other renewable sources. The nuclear reactor at Borssele in Zeeland continues to provide a small amount of power – 4% in 2007 – as it has since 1973 (In addition, approximately 5 % of Dutch electricity supply is provided by imported nuclear power).

According to government projections based on the so-called “global economy scenario”, the share of coal-fired generation is expected to increase substantially between 2007 and 2030, rising from just over a quarter to over half of all generation. Over the same perios, natural gas will fall to less than 30% of generation. This change in the fuel mix is expected to happen if the existing government policies are not extended beyond 2020. The construction of new coal-fired power plants is expected, driven by relatively low coal prices, supposedly with technological capability to implement CCS.


TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND INSTALLED CAPACITY

  Annual Average
Growth Rate (%)
Electricity Generation 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 1980 to 2000 2000 to 2004
Total 40.86 64.81 71.66 89.43 96.54 100.55 1.62 2.97
Nuclear 0.37 4.20 3.30 3.70 3.80 3.61 -0.63 -0.64
Hydro .. .. 0.12 0.14 0.07 0.10 .. -9.56
Geothermal .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Wind .. .. 0.05 0.83 1.32 1.87 .. 22.50
Other renewables .. .. .. 0.01 0.03 0.03 .. 28.78
Thermal 40.49 60.61 68.19 84.75 91.32 94.95 1.69 2.88
 
Installed Capacity 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 1980 to 2000 2000 to 2004
Total 10.17 17.30 17.44 21.01 20.90 21.74 0.98 0.86
Nuclear 0.06 0.50 0.50 0.45 0.45 0.45 -0.58 0.00
Hydro .. .. 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 .. 0.00
Geothermal .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Wind .. .. 0.05 0.44 0.88 1.07 .. 24.82
Other renewables .. .. 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.05 .. 46.01
Thermal 10.11 16.80 16.85 20.07 19.49 20.13 0.89 0.08
 

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

 

TABLE 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

  Annual Average
Growth Rate (%)
  1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 1980 to 2000 2000 to 2004
Energy consumption per capita (GJ/capita) 159.9 208.9 194.5 196.6 206.1 207.9 -0.30 1.42
Electricity per capita (KW.h/capita) 3,133.6 4,579.9 4,792.9 5,615.4 5,950.3 6,175.8 1.02 2.41
Nuclear/Total electricity (%) 0.9 6.5 4.6 4.1 3.9 3.6 -2.22 -3.51
Annual capacity factor - Total (%) 45.9 42.8 46.9 48.6 52.7 52.8 0.64 2.09
Annual capacity factor - Thermal (%) 45.7 41.2 46.2 48.2 53.5 53.8 0.79 2.80
Annual capacity factor - Hydro (%) .. .. 38.1 43.8 22.2 29.3 .. -9.56
Annual capacity factor - Nuclear (%) 76.4 95.1 74.7 94.0 96.6 91.7 -0.06 -0.64
Annual capacity factor - Wind (%) .. .. 11.9 21.4 17.0 19.9 .. -1.86
Annual capacity factor - Geothermal (%) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Annual capacity factor - Other renewables (%) .. .. .. 12.5 7.7 7.5 .. -11.81
 

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.


A couple of years ago the Government took the decision that the plant has to shut down at the end of the year 2003 and consequently a validity date until then was written into the license. The legal grounds of this action turned out to be insufficient and the Dutch State Council judged that the Government took a wrong way to put its decision into effect. However, the Government decided recently to maintain its decision to shut down at the end of 2003. Consequently, a lawsuit has been filed to force the operator EPZ to accomplish.

Nuclear percentage from total electricity production (centr. and decentr.): 4 %

Nuclear percentage from central electricity production: 6 %.

2.  NUCLEAR POWER SITUATION

2.1.  Historical Development and current nuclear power organizational structure

In 1968, the first nuclear power plant, at Dodewaard, was connected to the grid. The original goal of the Dodewaard facility was to gain practical knowledge and experience with nuclear power in order to determine whether commercial application of nuclear power would be feasible. Later in 1973, the Borssele nuclear power plant began operation. Decisions taken by the Dutch Government and Parliament in 1974 and 1975, to expand the number of nuclear power plants were subsequently deferred pending resolution of debates on the issue. Similar decisions taken in 1985 and 1986 were also suspended, following the Chernobyl accident. Since that time, the Netherlands Government has initiated various studies and research programmes, especially in the field of nuclear safety and on radioactive waste

In June 2006 an agreement has been signed between the Dutch government and the owner of the Borssele NPP, containing a 20-year lifetime extension to 2033. Borssele that started operation in 1973 should originally be shut down in 2013 but will now remain open till 2033.

One of the conditions of the agreement was that owners of the NPP should invest a total of around 250 million Euro in sustainable energy – to mainly focus on energy saving, clean fossil fuels (inclusing carbon sequestration) and renewable energy such as biomass.

2.2.  Nuclear Power Plants: Status and Operations


TABLE 7. STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Station Type Net Operator Status Reactor Construction Criticality Grid Commercial Shutdown
    Cpacity (Mwe)     Supplier Date Date Date Date Date
BORSSELE PWR   482 EPZ Operational S/KWU 01-Jul-69 20-Jun-73 04-Jul-73 26-Oct-73  
DODEWAARD BWR   55 BV GKN Permanent Shutdown RDM 01-May-65 24-Jun-68 18-Oct-68 26-Mar-69 26-Mar-97

Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System as of 31 December 2006.


The main purpose of the Dodewaard nuclear power plant was to conduct nuclear experiments for commercial applications. The Dodewaard plant was the only reactor in the world which was cooled by natural circulation. It made the plant most suitable for verification experiments on a commercial scale.

Dodewaard became operational in 1968. It was designed to operate with natural circulation, and was fitted with an isolation condenser to remove excess heat, properties that later became standard features of the new BWR design with passive safety characteristics. Originally planned to operate until 1 January 1995, its economic life was first extended to 1 January 1997, and later to 2004. The plant is now in the decommissioning phase. It has been decided to have a protective storage period of 40 years, after conservation measures have been put in place, before its final decommissioning.

As stated above nuclear energy accounts for 4% of electricity production in the Netherlands. Nuclear energy is also imported from Belgium and France (approx. 5% of domestic electricity consumption).

2.3.  Supply of Nuclear Power Plants

The entire Dodewaard plant and 70% of the Borssele plant were manufactured in the Netherlands.

Supplier of Dodewaard:    General Electric (GE)
Supplier of Borssele:    Kraftwerk Union (KWU)/Siemens.

2.4.  Operation of Nuclear Power Plants

Operator of the Dodewaard plant is NV GKN: Joint Nuclear Power Plant the Netherlands Ltd. Operator of the Borssele plant is NV EPZ: The Electricity Generating Company for the southern Netherlands.

NRG (Nuclear Research and Consulting Group, which was established in 1998 through the merger of ECN/s and KEMA's business activities in the nuclear fields) operates the HFR (High Flux Reactor) in Petten. This nuclear research reactor is owned by the European Commission, but operated by NRG.

2.5.  Fuel Cycle and Waste Management

2.5.1. Uranium enrichment

Uranium enrichment and production of ultra-centrifuges are the most important parts of the fuel cycle for the Netherlands and are very succesful.

Uranium enrichment is done by Urenco NL, which belongs to the Urenco Group with production from plants in Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Urenco is one of the four major uranium enrichment suppliers in the world.

Urenco  consists of two main business units, the Enrichment Group (UEC) and the Technology Group (ETC).

The Enrichment Group is responsible for operating centrifuge enrichment plants and marketing the enriched uranium to nuclear utilities worldwide. It has contracts with over 40 utilities in 17 countries in Europe, North America and East Asia and a growing world market share of 25%. At the end of 2007 the Group has built up an order portfolio of  €18 billion. Alonog with other Urenco plants, the Almelo operation is being expanded.In 2008 Urenco NL  was granted an increase in licensed capacity from 3700 to 4500 t separative work units.

At the moment Urenco is building a fourth enrichment plant, the National Enrichment Facility (NEF) in New Mexico (US). And it has concluded a joint venture with Areva (Fr) that is building an enrichment facility on the basis of Urenco’s ultracentrifuge technology in Tricastin (FR)

The Technology Group (ETC) owns the world-leading centrifuge technology and was formed in October 2003. Since July 2006 ETC has been jointly owned by Urenco (50%) and its joint venture partner Areva (50%). It has its main offices in Almelo. ETC develops, manufactures, supplies and installs gas centrifuges in the Urenco enrichment plants and will in the future also supply centrifuges to Areva, and to the NEF in the US. ETC also designs uranium enrichment plants using centrifuge technology.

2.5.2 Radioactive waste and spent fuel management

The Netherlands’ policy on radioactive waste and spent fuel management is based on a report that was presented to parliament by the Government in 1984. This report covered two areas. The first concerned the long-term interim storage of all radioactive wastes generated in the Netherlands, and the second concerned the Government research strategy for eventual disposal of these wastes.

Consideration of this report led, in regard to the first area, to the establishment of the Central Organisation for Radioactive Waste (COVRA) in Borsele, and in regard to the second, to the establishment of a research programme on disposal of radioactive waste. Pending the outcome of research into disposal, and assurance of political and public acceptance, it was decided to construct an engineered surface-storage facility with sufficient capacity for all the radioactive wastes generated in a period of at least 100 years.

Except for radioactive wastes with a half-life less than 100 days, which is allowed to decay at the sites where it is being generated, all radioactive waste (and spent fuel) produced in the Netherlands is managed by COVRA, the Central Organisation for Radioactive Waste. COVRA operates a facility at the industrial area Vlissingen-Oost in the south-west of the country. Currently, facilities for the storage of low, intermediate and high level waste are in operation. The storage facility for high-level waste was commissioned in 2003, and is designed to accommodate reprocessed and vitrified spent fuel from the nuclear power stations, conditioned spent fuel from the research reactors as well as other types of high level waste.

Transferral of the radioactive waste to COVRA includes transferral of the property and liabilities. The fact that COVRA takes full title of waste is reflected in the Transfer document and laid down in the General Conditions of COVRA. COVRA is a private organisation, of which all the shares are in possession of the State of the Netherlands.

Regarding final disposal, the government policy on radioactive waste and spent fuel stipulates that all radioactive material and spent fuel produced in the Netherlands is foreseen to be disposed of in an underground repository. This repository will have to be designed in such a way that each step is reversible, in order to allow future generations to retrieve the waste, if an alternative solution would become available.

Although the current radioactive waste management policy envisages no disposal in the near future, extensive research on the suitability of deep underground salt formations in the Netherlands has been carried out. In 1995 the so-called Commission Disposal Radioactive Waste (“CORA”) research programme was initiated as a continuation of former research, aimed at demonstrating the technical feasibility of a retrievable underground repository in salt and clay formations. In 2001 the study was concluded. The main conclusions were:

·       Retrieval of radioactive waste from repositories in salt and clay is technically feasible. The disposal concept envisages the construction of short, horizontal disposal cells each containing one HLW canister.

·       Safety criteria can be met. Even in a situation of neglect, the maximum radiation dose that an individual can incur remains far below 10 μSv/year.

·       Structural adjustments to the repository design are required to maintain accessibility. This applies particularly to a repository in clay, which needs additional support to prevent borehole convergence and eventual collapse of the disposal drifts.

·        Costs are higher than those for a non-retrievable repository, mainly due to maintenance of accessibility of the disposal drifts.

Because the Netherlands has adopted the strategy of storage in dedicated surface facilities for at least 100 years, there is no immediate urgency to select a specific disposal site. However, further research is required to resolve outstanding issues, to preserve the expertise and knowledge, and to be prepared for site selection in case of any change to the current timetable, arising by way of future European directives, for example. The CORA committee recommended validation of some of the results of safety studies, under field conditions, and co-operation with other countries, particularly on joint projects in underground laboratories, is foreseen in this context. As regards other technical aspects, it recommended that attention be given to the requirements for monitoring of retrievable repositories. Non-technical aspects will also be addressed.

Although the Parliament has agreed with the proposed research programme, it has not started yet due to lack of funds.

Reprocessing

The formal government policy on spent fuel management is that the decision on whether or not to reprocess spent fuel is in the first place a matter of the operator of a NPP. In the early days the operators have decided in favour of reprocessing their spent fuel for economic reasons (and reuse of plutonium in breeder-reactors), and reprocessing-contracts were concluded for all spent fuel of the NPP’s until 2015. These decisions were endorsed by the government. Until now, there have not been made any decisions on reprocessing of spent fuel after 2015.

According to the current contract between the operator of the Borssele NPP and AREVA, spent fuel from the Borssele NPP is sent to AREVA in France for reprocessing. The vitrified waste residues and the compacted hulls and ends from the reprocessing process are or will be returned to the Netherlands and stored at COVRA. In July 2006 new French legislation entered into force, which prescribes that a return-scheme for the radioactive waste has to be formalised at the moment the spent fuel is sent to France. This condition also applies to the spent fuel that should be sent to France under the current contract between the operator of the Borssele NPP and AREVA. As a consequence a (new) bilateral agreement between the governments of the Netherlands and France needs to be concluded. The Dutch government has started the formal procedures to arrange this agreement by presenting a proposal to Parliament, establishing a return-scheme for the spent fuel under the current contract. In the meantime, no transports of spent fuel from Borssele to AREVA can take place, which means that the spent fuel, for the time being, has to be stored at Borssele’s fuel pool.

2.6.  Research and Development Activities

NRG (Nuclear Research and consultancy Group) is the national nuclear research and development institute of The Netherlands. The organization employs about 300 researchers and scientists. NRG is performing most nuclear R&D in the Netherlands, is committed to international projects in and outside the European Union and performs a number of commercial activities. Its commercial services have been divided into six product groups, viz. Materials, Monitoring and Inspection; Fuels, Actinides and Isotopes; Risk Management and Decision Analysis; Radiation and Environment; Irradiation Services; Plant Performance and Technology. NRG is co-operating internationally in areas like:

Most important is that new R&D-goals have been set and that NRG developed and improved its R&D-tools and computer codes for the design and verification of innovative as well as inherently safe nuclear reactor concepts (both LWR type and others, e.g. HTR type).

The computer codes involve the fields of nuclear reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, accidents and failures as well as structural mechanics. This means that NRG is prepared to play a role in an international co-operation leading to the design, approval and licensing of new innovative nuclear reactor concepts.

NRG uses the HFR (High Flux Reactor, 45 MW thermal) for its irradiation research. The HFR is still owned by JRC (Joint Research Centre of the European Union). The reactor is operated under contract by NRG. JRC does not hold any licences any more. Nowadays it is NRG who holds the licences. NRG is responsible for the operation and the commercial exploitation of the HFR. The HFR's operation was again very successful until 2008. Its load factor was nearly 80%, which was about the same as the average over the last eight years.

After the detection of deformations in the Bottom Plug Liner this component will be replaced in the year 2010. In the mean time the HFR is still in operation in order to produce medical radioisotopes. The HFR was especially successful in the irradiation for radioisotope production. The HFR has a share of about 70% of the European market for medical applications. Nearly 7 million people in and outside Europe were treated with its radio-isotopes.

Another issue forms the conversion of HFR's fuel from HEU to LEU. After a thorough study, the decision was taken to convert the fuel. Because of this decision, the return of spent fuel to the United States has recently been resumed.

A co-operation between the Reactor Institute Delft (RID)of the University of Delft and NRG is ongoing, e.g. in the area of neutron diffraction. The possibilities for this technology turn out to be very interesting viz. in the areas of material stresses and of soft condensed matter. The education for nuclear scientists and engineers in concentrated in RID. Consequently RID is involved in the improvement of the stability of Boiling Water Reactors and tn the development of molten-salt reactors.

Institutes, which contribute to nuclear research funded by the Netherlands government, are:

2.7.  International Co-operation and Initiatives

Since the early days of the Netherlands nuclear programme, international co-operation has been considered a necessity by all those involved. Since the joint exploitation of the Halden research reactor (together with Norway) in the 1950's and 1960's until the Urenco co-operation in uranium enrichment of the present day, the Netherlands' nuclear activities have been undertaken in close co-operation with other countries. A strong interest in multilateral co-operation on nuclear energy matters within intergovernmental organizations complements the orientation toward practical co-operation with others.

Within the context of the "Open nuclear energy option" the Netherlands is interested in and remains dedicated to the development of new reactor concepts such as the advanced light water reactors and the high temperature gas-cooled reactors in order to contribute to a sustainable energy supply in the long term. As far as the development of the HTR is concerned, NRG is co-operating with ESKOM in South Africa and JAERI in Japan. RID with Tsinghua University in China.

The Netherlands and Germany also co-operate in the area of subsurface radioactive waste disposal. Research in this area was performed in Germany's Asse salt mine. In the future, transmutation of actinides (including plutonium) and other long-lived fission products may replace geological disposal. In this innovative area, Dutch institutes (as well as HFR) are involved in co-operation with JRC, French and Belgian institutes. Finally, interest has been expressed in a technology assessment of inherently safe nuclear reactors (e.g., HTR).

3.  NATIONAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS 1

3.1.  Safety Authority and the Licensing Process

See the national report of the Netherlands for the third review conference of the Nuclear Safety convention

3.2. Main national Laws and Regulations in Nuclear Power

3.2.1.  Safety Authority and the Licensing Process

By Royal Decree of June 21th 1999 an agreement has been reached between the Minister of Economic Affairs (EZ) and the Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning (VROM) and Environment on the transfer of the co-ordinating role of the Minister of Economic Affairs fot the Nuclear Energy Act.  In this way the Netherlands are in conformity with the IAEA Nucleair Safety Convention, which demands that appropriate steps are being undertaken to ensure that an effective separation between regulatory functions (allocated to VROM) and other functions such as promotion and utilisation of nuclear energy (EZ) be maintained. The latter will not have any longer the prime responsibility for the implementation and execution of the Nuclear Energy Act insofar as nuclear installations [ and radioactive substances and röntgenapparatus) are concerned. It should be mentioned that the main responsibility for energy supply policy in general remains with the Minister of Economic Affairs. In the Netherlands, basic legislation governing nuclear activities is contained in the Nuclear Energy Act of 1963 (in force 1 th January 1970) , which has been amended on several occasions mostly due to changes in the procedure of licencing. 

3.2.2.  Main National Laws and Regulations in Nuclear Power

Legislation

All activities relative to the import, transport, use, storage, disposal and export of radioactive material are subject to the provisions of the Nuclear Energy Act (1963, last revised 1994) [1]. This includes the construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear power stations, but also of other nuclear facilities such as radioactive waste disposal facilities and enrichment factories.

The Nuclear Energy Act is a framework act, which is enacted by separate decrees and ordinances, which aim to implement specific parts of the act; mostly radioationprotection of workers and the public. In the legislation a fundamental distinction has been made between activities related to the nuclear fuel cycle, which follow the most stringent regime, and activities related to the application of radioactive sources and electrical appliances emitting X-rays. The decrees with the most direct bearing on radioactive waste management are the Nuclear Installations, Fissionable Material and Ores Decree (1969 last revised 2008), the Radiation Protection Decree (1986 last revised 2006) and the Decree on the appointment of the Central Organisation of Radioactive Waste (COVRA) as recognised waste management organisation (1987/2008).

Both promotion and protection aspects of nuclear energy are combined under the same act. The Nuclear Energy Act also designates the various competent authorities and outlines their responsibilities.

The Regulatory Body

The Regulatory Body for radioactive waste management coincides with other regulatory functions regarding implementation and enforcement of the Nuclear Energy Act. Several Ministries are involved, each for its specific area of responsibility. That means that regulatory responsibility is divided between different organisations. The most involved ministries are the following:

As regards radioactive waste management, much emphasis is placed on aspects associated with protection of the population at large and the environment and consequently, the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment has a leading position in this area.

 

Licensing

The Nuclear Energy Act requires a license issued by the Regulatory Body for all activities involving radioactive materials, fissionable materials and ores when they exceed certain pre-set exemption levels (Euratom). These activities include import, export, transport, preparation, use, storage, release and disposal of materials and construction and operation of facilities as wel as also decommissioning of nuclear installations.

With the objective to achieve a complete separation between promotion and protection aspects of nuclear energy applications, the prime responsibility with respect to licensing has been assigned to the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment for all licenses from 2006. In 2006 licencing off radioactive substances and X-ray apparatus is the job of a special Agency SenterNovem, however the Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment is responsible.

 

In parallel to the Nuclear Energy Act, there are two other acts which have a bearing on the possibility of acquiring or modifying a license:

 

 

Regulatory inspections and enforcement

 

Article 58 of the Nuclear Energy Act states that the ministers who are responsible for licensing should entrust designated officials with the task of supervising inspection and enforcement. The main bodies for inspection and enforcement are the Nuclear Safety Division, since 1 July 2000 part of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment as result of a Government decision to concentrate regulatory functions on radiation protection and nuclear safety in a single organisation -, and the Environment Inspectorate of the same ministry. Also nuclear security and safeguards are part off the responsability of the Nuclear Safety Division. The latter division is also responsable for the occupational protection of workers in nuclear installations.

4.  CURRENT ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS ON NUCLEAR POWER

4.1.  Energy Policy

In June 2008 the minister of Economic Affairs, mrs. Van der Hoeven, sent a  new Energy Policy document, the so-called Energy Report, (3) to Parliament. This document focuses on the question how to ensure a reliable, affordable and clean energy supply for the Netherlands on the short and the long term.

Over the next three years, the government will invest € 7 billion to make the energy system more sustainable up to 2012. It will increase international cooperation in energy policy and will adapt the legislative framework so that energy markets and the investment climate will improve.

The Netherlands is the European hub for imports, processing and exports of oil and has the potential to play a similar role for natural gas, biomass and carbon dioxide.

Energy savings and energy sustainability will remain the cornerstone of the Dutch energy policy. In 2020, 20% of the generated energy  should be sustainable and 2% on energy consumption should be saved annually. The government is focussing on wind and biomass energy, and preparing for a large scale rollout of solar panels. Together with the private sector, the government will take steps to harness the North Sea’s potential as a source for sustainable energy. The development of carbon dioxide capture and storage is strongly stimulated.

As far a nuclear energy is concerned, the government decided  that, during their term of office, which normally will end spring 2011, no decisions on new nuclear power plants will be made. However, as a result of the increasing urgency of the climate problem and scarcity of energy sources, the government has indicated that thinking about nuclear energy in the future fuel mix must not come to a standstill,  With a view to decision making by the next Government, three scenarios regarding the potential role of nuclear power will be elaborated, including transparent and consistent preconditions. These scenario’s are:

1) no new nuclear power stations or no new nuclear power stations, unless inherently safe

2) Replacement of Borssele NPP in 2033

3) building new nuclear power station, one or more, after 2020 (in addition to replacing Borssele).

The government believes also that cost scenarios should be developed taking into account the current market trends and technological insights. For this reason, the minister of Economic Affairs sent a letter to mr. Echavarri from the NEA and to mr. Tanaka from the IEA in sept. 2008 with the request to update previous cost scenarios. This update will also be used to further elaborate the three scenarios mentioned.

Furthermore a series of no-regret measures has been taken by the government regarding nuclear energy to enable the new government to make a considered decision on nuclear energy.

4.2.  Privatisation and deregulation

The Netherlands has a liberalised electricity market. As stated in the Energy Review Report 2008 from the IEA, for any expansion of nuclear power to take place, a sound business case would have to be established for the necessary investment by utilities and other investors, including an efficient and predictable licensing process.

REFERENCES

[1]

Nuclear Energy Act, Bulletin of Acts Orders and Decrees, 82, 1963 as revised 1994.

[2]

National Report of the Netherlands under the Convention on Nuclear Safety, The Hague, 28 September 1998 15-27.

[3]

Energy Report , Ministry of Economic affairs, The Hague, June 2008

[4]

IAEA, Energy an d Economic Data Base (EEDB).

[5]

Data & Statistics, The World Bank , www.worldbank.org/data.

[6]

IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS).

Appendix 1

INTERNATIONAL, MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

The following is a list of International Conventions and Bilateral Agreements signed/ratified by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the field of Nuclear Co-operation.

AGREEMENTS WITH THE IAEA

bullet Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

26 October 1956
20 July 1957

bullet Agreement on Privileges and Immunities

Entry into force:

29 August 1963

bullet Amendment of the IAEA statute

Entry into force:

27 September 1984

bullet  NPT related agreement INFCIRC/193

Entry into force:

21 February 1977

bullet Additional protocol to the agreement between the NNWS, Euratom and the IAEA for the application of safeguards (GOV/1998/28)

Signed:

22 September 1998

bullet Improved procedures for designation of safeguards inspectors

Proposals rejected but agreed to special procedure

16 February 1989

bullet Supplementary agreement on provision of technical assistance by the IAEA

Entry into force:

 

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

bullet Paris convention on third party liability in the field of nuclear energy

Entry into force:
Ratification date

29 July 1960
28 December 1979

bullet Additional protocol to the Paris convention of 31 January 1963 supplementary to the convention Third Party Liability

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

28 January 1964
28 September 1979

bullet Amendment to the Paris convention on third party liability in the field of nuclear energy

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

16 November 1982
1 August 1991

bullet  NPT

Entry into force:

2 May 1975

bullet Convention on physical protection of nuclear material

Entry into force:

6 October 1991

bullet Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident.

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

24 October 1991
23 September 1991

bullet Joint protocol relating to the application of the Vienna and the Paris conventions

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

21 September 1988
1 August 1991

bullet Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency

Entry into force:

24 October 1991

bullet Vienna convention on civil liability for nuclear damage

Non Party

 

bullet Protocol to amend the Vienna convention on civil liability for nuclear damage

Not signed

 

bullet Convention on supplementary compensation for nuclear damage

Not signed

 

  • Amendment to the Convention on physical protection Entry
 Entry into force: 8 july 2005
  • Treaty against Nuclear Terrorism
Entry into force: 7 july 2007

·   Protocol to the 1960 convention regarding third party liability

Entry into force: 12 february 2004

bullet Joint protocol

Entry into force:

27 April 1992

·  Protocol to the 1963 convention regarding third party liability

Entry into force:  12 february 2004

·  Framework convention on multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programs in the Russian Federation (MNEPR) 

Entry into force: 14 april 2004

bullet Convention on nuclear safety

Entry into force;

13 January 1997

bullet Joint convention on the safety of spent fuel management and on the safety of radioactive waste management

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

18 June 2001
26 April 2000

bullet ZANGGER committee

Member

 

bullet Nuclear export guidelines

Adopted

 

bullet Acceptance of NUSS codes

Summary: Serve as basis for national requirements. Design, Operation and QA Codes (once adapted) introduced into regulatory framework

6 Sept ember 1989

bullet Partial Test-Ban Treaty

Entry into force:

14 September 1964

bullet Nuclear Suppliers Group

Member

 

OTHER RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

bullet European Atomic Energy Community

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

25 March 1957
13 December 1957

bullet EURATOM

Member

 

bullet Security control in the field of nuclear energy

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

20 December 1957
9 July 1959

bullet European Company for the chemical processing of irradiated fuels (Eurochemic)

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

20 December 1957
9 July 1959

bullet Establishment at Petten of the Joint Nuclear Research Centre

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

25 July 1961

30 October 1962

bullet Civil liability in the field of maritime carriage of nuclear material

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

17 December 1971
1 August 1991

MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS

bullet Netherlands, Germany and England on collaboration in the development and exploitation of the gas centrifuge process for producing enriched uranium

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

4 March 1970
18 June 1971

bullet Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom and the USA regarding protection of information transferred into the USA in connection with the initial phase of a project for the establishment of a uranium enrichment installation in the USA based upon the gas centrifuge process developed within the three countries

Entry into force:

4 November 1990

bullet Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom and the USA regarding the establishment, construction and operation of a uranium enrichment installation in the USA

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

8 July 1993
21 March 1993

bullet Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom and the USA regarding the establishment, construction and operation of a uranium enrichment installation in the USA Entry into force:
Ratification date:
8 July 1993
21 March 1993

bullet Exchange of Notes between the Netherlands and the United States concerning the application of non-proliferation assurances to low enriched uranium supplied to Taiwan.

Signed:

21 July 1999

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

bullet Kingdom of the Netherlands and Brazil Application of safeguards to proposed exports to Brazil of uranium enriched in the Kingdom of the Netherlands by Urenco

Entry into force:

1 September 1978

bullet Kingdom of the Netherlands and Germany concerning exports of enriched uranium to Brazil

Entry into force:

4 September 1978

bullet Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom concerning reprocessing of certain quantities of irradiated nuclear fuel

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

12 September 1978
30 June 1981

bullet Kingdom of the Netherlands and France concerning reprocessing of certain quantities of irradiated nuclear fuel

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

29 May 1979
17 August 1981

bullet Extension of the agreement of 4 April 1990 regarding protection of information transferred into the United States

Entry into force:
Ratification date:

5 April 1991
7 July 1992

 

Appendix 2

DIRECTORY OF THE MAIN ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND COMPANIES INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR POWER RELATED ACTIVITIES

NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

Ministry of Economic Affairs
Bezuidenhoutseweg 30
Postbus 20101
2500 EC 's-Gravenhage, The Netherlands

Tel: +31-70-379.89.11
Fax: +31-70-347.40.81
http://www.ez.nl

Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
Anna van Hannoverstraat 4
P.O. Box 90801
2509 LV The Hague, The Netherlands

Tel: +31-70-333.44.44
Fax: +31-70-333.40.33

Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM)
Rijnstraat 8
P.O. Box 20951
2500 EZ The Hague, The Netherlands

Tel: +31-70-339.39.39
Fax: +31-70-339. 13.55

Directorate-general of the Environment
Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Division
Rijnstraat 8
P.O. Box 30945
2500 GX The Hague, The Netherlands

Tel: +31-70-339.45.94
Fax: +31-70-339.13.14

NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE

NRG Petten
Westerduinweg 3
P.O. BOX 25
1755ZG Petten, The Netherlands

Tel: +31 224 564082
Fax: + 31 224 563912
http://www.nrg-nl.com/index.html

OTHER NUCLEAR ORGANIZATIONS

International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA)

http://irpa.sfrp.asso.fr

The Netherlands Nuclear Society (NNS)

http://www.ecn.nl/society/nns

Reactor Institute Delft RID
TU-Delft, Mekelweg 15
2629 JB Delft, P.O. Box 5042
2629 JB Delft, the Netherlands

Tel: +31-15-278.67.12
Fax: +31-15-278.64.22

COVRA Spanjeweg 1
4455 TW Nieuwdorp
P.O. Box 202
4380 AE Vlissingen, The Netherlands

Tel: +31-113-61.39.00
Fax: +31-113-61.39.50

GKN N.V.
Waalbankdijk 112a
P.O. Box 40
6669 ZG Dodewaard, The Netherlands

Tel: +31-448-41.88.11
Fax: +31 448-41.21.28

Enrichment Technology                                 Nederland B.V. P.O. Box 30 7600 AA Almelo Tel: + 31 546 54 55.00 Fax: + 31 546 54 55.01

info@nl.enritec.com

 

URENCO Nederland B.V.
P.O. Box 158
7600 AD Almelo

 

Tel: +31-546-54.54.54
Fax: +31-546-81 82 96
http://www.urenco.nl

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Netherlands Energy and Research Foundation (ECN)
Westerduinweg 1
P.O. Box 1
1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands

Tel: +31-224-56.49.49
Fax: +31-224-56.34.90/56.44.80
http://www.ecn.nl/main.html

European Association for Grey Literature Exploitation
(EAGLE/SIGLE)

http://www.konbib.nl/infolev/sigle/ea/index.html

Elsevier Science

http://www.elsevier.nl

FOM-Institute for Plasma Physics, Rijnhuizen

http://www.rijnh.nl

The Chemical Weapons Convention (OCPW)

http://www.opcw.nl

 

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