Green energy for train, bus and station
Since 2017, our trains in the Netherlands have been running entirely on green energy, the first country in the world. Initially, they ran on 100% wind power, and since the new 2025 electricity contract, they have been running on a combination of wind and solar power.
With a combination of wind and solar power, NS relies on fossil fuels for fewer hours of the day (when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing). This makes traveling by NS train the cleanest way to travel after walking and cycling, as it's CO2-neutral on an annual basis. In total, NS uses approximately 1.2 TWh of electricity to operate its trains. This represents 1% of Dutch electricity consumption and the annual electricity consumption of all Amsterdam households. NS has signed a contract with EP Commodities and Shell, which guarantees this.
What else does NS do?
When trains are unable to run, NS schedules buses instead. Since 2019, these buses have been running on HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), made from used cooking oil and industrial fats. This fuel has one-tenth the CO2 emissions of diesel. The remaining CO2 emissions are offset by carbon credits, making it climate-neutral: zero CO2 emissions. Furthermore, its production does not burden natural resources or food production.
Stations are heated by heat and cold storage systems, green electricity, or gas. Our ambition is also to use more of our own resources (buildings, land) to generate sustainable energy.