Installers of solar panels are seeing an increase in the number of applications following the Senate's decision to continue the net-metering scheme. This is evident from a tour of several dozen solar installers affiliated with Techniek Nederland. "The decision on the balancing scheme has an impact," says René de Jong of Ecotec Solar from Zevenbergen. "From the day the Senate took the decision, the number of applications with us has increased by 18%."
On Feb. 13, the Senate rejected a bill by outgoing Climate and Energy Minister Jetten to phase out the net-metering scheme for small-scale consumers. The effects of that decision are already being felt at Niyata Energy in Utrecht as well. Director Dursun Kilic says his company has already recorded 10% more applications this month than in the final months of 2023. "Consumers are warming up to solar energy again," Kilic says.
Substantial increase
Martin Hoekstra of ST/Warmte from Nieuwkoop also notes that interest in solar power installations is on the rise again. "Last fall we had a maximum of four applications per month, this month there are thirty. Incidentally, it is not only the decision on the net-metering scheme that plays a role in this. We're heading toward spring and that's when demand always picks up." Antoinette Boleij of Hoppenbrouwers Techniek from Udenhout even mentions a 50% increase in the number of applications since the Senate decided to maintain the net-metering scheme.
Inverters
Reactions to the Senate decision were not only positive. For example, grid operators point out that both production and offtake of electricity are increasing rapidly. As a result, the electricity grid is becoming increasingly overloaded, and the growth in the number of solar panels is contributing significantly to this. Particularly on sunny days in spring and summer, solar panel inverters may therefore switch off for short periods. Incidentally, this hardly affects the payback period of solar panels, which is now about seven years. Chairman Doekle Terpstra does believe it is more urgent than ever to strengthen and expand the electricity grid. According to Terpstra, it is also important to encourage consumers to maximize the use of their own generated solar power for their own use.
