Week 3 in Wijnjewoude
Week 3 in Wijnjewoude
Nitrous Oxide
Electricity, solar panels
Retirement
Ben
Books, podcasts
Nitrous Oxide
The Govt. seems to be holding the line on this one. I think it is one of those things where people see that it needs doing... "as long as somebody else does it".
One farmer near Schiphol was paid €4.1 million - a few of the fellow farmers said yeah, why not?...
In November, the Dutch government announced the first part of a €24.3bn ($26.3bn) plan to buy out up to 3,000 farms and major industrial polluters near protected nature reserves – if necessary, through compulsory purchase, “with pain in our hearts”. It is hugely controversial and only initial outlines have been announced after a year of protests, tense negotiations and a report in October recommending buying out the top 500 or 600 polluters within a year.
The reason is that the emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide are damaging areas of unique, natural landscape known as Natura 2000 habitats, which the country is bound by EU law to protect. The government says this means reducing local nitrogen compound emissions from between 12% and 70%, including slashing the Netherlands’ 118 million farmed animals by 30% by 2030, according to Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency projections.
This from nu.nl (on retirement).
The number of entrepreneurs aged 65 and older who have registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) has increased by more than 40 percent in the past five years. According to Chamber of Commerce adviser Angèle Magré, some of the over-65s still feel much too young to stop working.
The reason is that the emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide are damaging areas of unique, natural landscape known as Natura 2000 habitats, which the country is bound by EU law to protect. The government says this means reducing local nitrogen compound emissions from between 12% and 70%, including slashing the Netherlands’ 118 million farmed animals by 30% by 2030, according to Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency projections.
Solar Panels, et al
I've been contemplating a "house" battery for 12 months or more now. Janny just looked at me as if to say yeah OK but it isn't a thing here - it sort of makes sense, but why isn't everybody doing it?
Well, it is now starting to make sense to a lot more people because the benefits of "salderen" (grid or net balancing) are going to be phased out. Maybe I'm gloating just a little bit because I feel as though I was ahead of the times - but, in looking at our own situation, it just seemed so logical to make it here and use it here - particularly with the over-supply already being spoken about - and the mind-numbing proliferation of solar panel rooves and solar farms. i.e. over supply is only going to get worse.
So, now there will be a run on house batteries...although using an electric car as an alternative is also being discussed in a few places.
From De Telegraaf Monday 16 Jan
Households that generate electricity with solar panels, but do not all use that electricity themselves, supply this back to the grid. They may offset this feed-in with the electricity they purchase from the grid at another time (so-called net metering). However, the scheme that has been set up for this will be considerably cut back in the coming years.
As far as Leijten is concerned, other solutions are preferred. “Anyone who has solar panels will soon become a supplier on the market. But make sure you make it possible for people to share their generated power, for example with their neighbours. Store it in the neighborhood, raise it for the local pool or school. Then it does not have to go on the overloaded grid.”
JA21 party chairman Joost Eerdmans, however, is firmly against the austerity plan. He speaks of an 'unreliable government'. “Everyone was lured with money. Everything was rushed, like running off the gas. Now she's walking (tripping?) over the shoes again (A Dutch saying). This is a government that changes the rules during the game.”
SP Member of Parliament Renske Leijten is also not happy about it. “This is a form of breach of contract,” says Leijten. She sees that 'all risks from the energy suppliers will soon be passed on to the consumer'. In addition, she says, fairness is disappearing from sight. “People are encouraged to invest in sustainable energy. Once those investments have been made, they are not allowed to reap the benefits.”
Households that generate electricity with solar panels, but do not all use that electricity themselves, supply this back to the grid. They may offset this feed-in with the electricity they purchase from the grid at another time (so-called net metering). However, the scheme that has been set up for this will be considerably cut back in the coming years.
As far as Leijten is concerned, other solutions are preferred. “Anyone who has solar panels will soon become a supplier on the market. But make sure you make it possible for people to share their generated power, for example with their neighbours. Store it in the neighborhood, raise it for the local pool or school. Then it does not have to go on the overloaded grid.”
'Unreliable'
JA21 party chairman Joost Eerdmans, however, is firmly against the austerity plan. He speaks of an 'unreliable government'. “Everyone was lured with money. Everything was rushed, like running off the gas. Now she's walking (tripping?) over the shoes again (A Dutch saying). This is a government that changes the rules during the game.”
SP Member of Parliament Renske Leijten is also not happy about it. “This is a form of breach of contract,” says Leijten. She sees that 'all risks from the energy suppliers will soon be passed on to the consumer'. In addition, she says, fairness is disappearing from sight. “People are encouraged to invest in sustainable energy. Once those investments have been made, they are not allowed to reap the benefits.”
Electric Cars
Janny's old primary school friend arranged for us to look at an electric car... a Hyundai Kona.
We didn't even take it for a drive because it was obviously too small for our needs - to get clients in and out of both the front and rear seats.
We then went elsewhere to look at the KIA Niro - I would have driven away with it there and then, but Janny is a bit (lot) more level-headed than me! So, we continue looking.
We need to get a few things lined up -
Buying the solar panels on our roof
Getting the car properly recognised as "business purposes" because we are picking up so many clients.
(I did four trips to Haulerwijk on Thursday!). (This is important, as the "value" gets added to your yearly income for tax purposes). At the moment there is no Road Tax on electric cars - it is coming in 2024 and is cheaper for "business" vehicles.
Accountant,
Bank
Installation delays (if we need our own inverter and charging pole).
The number of entrepreneurs aged 65 and older who have registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) has increased by more than 40 percent in the past five years. According to Chamber of Commerce adviser Angèle Magré, some of the over-65s still feel much too young to stop working.
This bit struck a nerve with me...
The group of older people who continue in their own company after reaching the predetermined retirement age often have a practical reason for doing so. "There is also a group of entrepreneurs who do not yet have a buyer or successor for the company," says Magré. And the group that has found a successor sometimes finds it difficult to let go of the company they built.
Still walking... with my thickest winter coat, beanie and gloves!
This one taken by Janny's Mum. This bit is not usually under water - we've had a lot of rain...
On Saturday I found a new (to me) Australian author Robert Gott
Lightweight, but good enough to finish in one day with walking and little or no work!
I also found a new Podcast called Jam Tomorrow - the introduction was about life in London during the war - bombings, air raid shelters and much more - where Keep Calm - and Carry On started - the Jam Tomorrow being a reference to "things are bad now, but we'll have Jam Tomorrow".
The reference to the bombings made me think of the fire-fighting of that time which gave rise to a body of expertise and experience (not unlike the Ukrainians at the moment). This fire-fighting knowledge was catalogued in the Manuals of Firemanship - which were the basis of my studies - more than 50 years ago.
Ben in Los Angeles
One of his friends has a light plane...
Ben is pretty good at looking up subsidies, benefits, etc. so he has already sent some information through to us.
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