NLENFR

Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme

By 2050, the Netherlands aims to be natural gas-free. The Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme is a supra-local programme that unites several local test sites to draw collective lessons, and set in motion the replication of natural gas-free (energy) districts.

Making the whole of the Netherlands natural gas-free is a huge challenge. Over eight million homes and buildings have to be disconnected from gas within a period of thirty years. To this end, the government set up the inter-governmental Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme, a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, the Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO), the Union of Water Boards and the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG). They optimally support municipalities and the parties involved in becoming natural-gas free. The aim of the programme is to learn how the district-based approach can be designed and scaled up, and the best way in which municipalities can make the various districts natural gas-free. For this purpose large scale test sites are used, 46 of which are already underway, as well as a corresponding Knowledge and Learning programme for all Dutch municipalities. Bottlenecks are flagged, placed on the agenda and solved where possible, based on practical experience and specific test sites. The Knowledge and Learning programme and the test sites provide the driving force for municipalities and the parties involved to work on the district-based approach on an ever larger scale.

The municipalities that participate in the Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme can decide how they disconnect their district from natural gas. At the test sites the participating municipalities make their homes and other buildings natural gas-free or prepare them so they can be in the near future.

address
Nederland
partners and actors
Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, the Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO), the Union of Water Boards and the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG)
theme
energy
innovative aspects
organisational form, cultural change, policy innovation
scale
district


46 municipalities participating in Natural Gas-Free Districts
article46 municipalities participating in Natural Gas-Free Districts
In the Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme, 46 districts were selected after a second selection round to receive subsidies from central government with the aim of becoming natural gas-free. These districts serve as the testing ground for gathering knowledge and sharing lessons.

The task we
are faced with
is large
and complex.
Essay collection on natural gas-free districts
by nine professors
articleThe task we are faced with is large and complex. Essay collection on natural gas-free districts by nine professors
Not all the questions, and certainly not all the answers for making the Netherlands completely natural gas-free are known as yet. Thanks to continuous reflection in the learning environment and the community, solutions are sought together rather than separately.


The task we
are faced with
is large
and complex.
Essay collection on natural gas-free districts
by nine professors


photo: ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties, het ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat, het Interprovinciaal Overleg, de Unie van Waterschappen en de Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten, 2020

Natural gas-free districts programme: Learning together
by taking action
2021-2024 programme plan
articleNatural gas-free districts programme: Learning together by taking action 2021-2024 programme plan
The municipal testing grounds are based on a district-oriented approach that includes infrastructural efficiency and social tasks. A programme plan was drawn up for the next round of natural gas-free districts based on the lessons learned from all the participating municipalities.


Natural gas-free districts programme: Learning together
by taking action
2021-2024 programme plan


photo: ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties, het ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat, het Interprovinciaal Overleg, de Unie van Waterschappen en de Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten, ?

Working together towards being natural gas-free. Inspiration for municipalities
fileWorking together towards being natural gas-free. Inspiration for municipalities
Municipalities that are already working on the energy transition bundle their motivation, knowledge and experience and share it with municipalities that are still looking for inspiration.

download / view PDF:
Working together towards being natural gas-free. Inspiration for municipalities