KPN is taking another big step forward in its sustainability strategy. KPN will purchase electricity from Eneco's newly built Kabeljauwbeek solar farm in the Brabant municipality of Woensdrecht. This solar farm with approximately 88,000 solar panels will supply green energy for KPN's fixed and mobile networks from the beginning of 2025. KPN has entered into a 15-year agreement with Eneco for this purpose.

Eneco started the construction of its largest onshore solar farm in Woensdrecht at the beginning of this year. This solar farm will be built under the five wind turbines of the Kabeljauwbeek wind farm and is expected to be fully operational at the beginning of 2025. KPN will purchase more than 47 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity annually. In 2027, more than 200 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity will be added from the new Ecowende wind farm, which is being built more than 50 km off the Dutch coast near IJmuiden. In addition, solar panels have been installed on 40 KPN technical buildings in recent years. This means that approximately two-thirds of the electricity that KPN will consume from 2027 will come from sustainable sources.

KPN currently has several short-term green energy contracts. This will be further expanded in the coming years with long-term commitments. The ‘pay as nominated’ mechanism applies to both new contracts for Eneco’s supply of green energy to KPN. In other words, KPN’s purchase must match the volume of electricity sustainably generated by the solar farm and wind farm, buying when there is plenty of sunshine and wind to make the most efficient use of the available green power. If it’s very windy, the electricity will be supplied by the wind farm; on days with less wind, the sun will usually be the main source of energy. The summer months have the most sunshine hours while the winter is the windiest time of the year. Day and night follow a similar pattern: the sun shines during the day but the wind is stronger at night. So, by combining these two sources, KPN can ensure that the amount of generated power equals the amount of consumed power as closely as possible. It means that other sources of energy will be less needed and less often to temporarily meet the demand for energy. This move means that KPN can help make the Netherlands’ electricity production more sustainable.

Joost Farwerck, CEO KPN: “We at KPN have been committed to a better internet for years. This is not only faster and more stable, but also more social, safer and greener. That is why we are making the transition to sustainable energy sources. From next year, a large part of our power needs will come from the new Kabeljauwbeek solar park. Two years later we will add electricity from the Ecowende wind farm that is now being built. In three years' time, almost all our customers will be using the internet via a sustainable and efficient network that we feed with the right power at the right time, via energy from the sun and wind.”

KPN's fixed and mobile networks have been running on green energy since 2011 and KPN's own operations have been climate neutral since 2015. KPN has also taken significant steps to reduce energy in recent years. For example, KPN's absolute energy consumption has fallen by 42% since 2010, while data consumption increased approximately 28x in the same period. KPN wants to save at least an additional 10% until 2030. At the same time, KPN has formulated circular ambitions and set the goal of reducing emissions across the entire value chain to net zero by 2040.