The Netherlands is One of the Fastest Growing Solar PV Markets in Europe
/3rd May 2019, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCHTM/ The Netherlands will not fulfil its EU 2020 renewable energy targets of 14%. The share of renewable energy will reach below 12.5%, according to the latest forecasts. However, there is quite an impressive pipeline of solar photovoltaic power projects in the Netherlands. The country is undertaking serious efforts to transform its energy system. Historically, the Netherlands relied heavily on its gas reserves, but with natural deposits dwindling, the country is looking to renewable energy to meet its energy demands.
In 2016, only 6% of the country’s energy came from renewable energy sources – 4% from wind and 2% from solar. By contrast, Sweden met close to 40% of its energy demands via renewable energy. Through national SDE+ auctions (Stimulation of Sustainable Energy Production), the Netherlands offers a greater financial incentive to developers via Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Stimulating renewable energy production is not the only pressing issue facing the Dutch government. As more and more renewable energy facilities become operational, the risk of bottlenecks in the electricity grid increases.
At the end of 2018, there were 7 GW of approved solar projects to be realised up to 2023. The Dutch Energy Agreement of 2015 sets a 16% renewable energy target by 2023. It seems reasonable that this target will be met. The Netherlands have a Climate Law with a CO2 reduction target of 49% by 2030. In December 2018, a climate and energy agreement was reached between a broad range of stakeholders, regulating the distribution of the CO2 reduction shares for the different sectors: building, environment, electricity, industry, mobility and agriculture. At least 75% of electricity consumption in 2030 will have to come from renewables, while all coal power plants have to be closed and gas use will be strongly reduced. The electrification of heat (industry) and mobility (personal cars) will dramatically increase electricity demand. The 2050 CO2-reduction target is 95%.
The Netherlands is one of the fastest-growing solar PV markets in Europe for 2018, and this trend will continue by 2020. At Eemshaven in the north of the Netherlands, Vattenfall has opened its biggest solar farm to date with a total output of 5.7 MW. The construction has been made possible by customers, local residents and other interested parties through the crowdfunding project “Samen in Zon” (SunTogether project). This is the second crowdfunded solar farm in the Netherlands to be opened. Later this year, another two are planned to in Coevorden and Gasselternijveen, which will account for 9.2 MW renewable power.
Pfalzsolar started constructing a 34 MW PV park in Almere in the Dutch province of Flevoland at the end of March 2019. Last year, the German project planner and EPC Pfalzsolar prevailed against numerous international competitors in a call for tenders issued by the HVC Group, one of the largest non-commercial waste management companies in the Netherlands, and won the contract to implement the large-scale project.
British Solar Renewables Engineering, Procurement and Construction’s (BSR EPC) first solar project in the Netherlands is being installed on behalf of the Zeeuwind Cooperative and is expected to power more than 900 homes a year. The 3.6MW site in Koudekerke, Zeeland will support the local energy cooperative’s vision of creating a carbon-neutral village by 2030 and is to be made up of approximately 10,000 panels. The project's construction, which will be located on a derelict landfill site, will start in June 2019.
The more information and answers to your questions about Dutch solar energy market you may read here: Europe Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Market: Outlook 2018÷2027
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