8.1 million solar panels were installed in the Netherlands in 2019, increasing the total installed capacity by 53% to nearly 7 gigawatt. This is according to the National Dutch Solar Trend Report 2020, published by Dutch New Energy Research. To allow this growth to continue, a major upgrade of the Dutch power grid will be required.
“The Netherlands is catching up quickly,” says Rolf Heynen, CEO of Dutch New Energy Research. “Compared to the rest of Europe the market share of renewable energy sources is still negligible. However, the Netherlands is now a worldwide leader with regards to the number of solar panels installed each year.”
Thanks to the 8.1 million new panels, solar energy now accounts for 5% of all electricity generated in the Netherlands. The government has already awarded grants to enough projects to double this share in the coming years. However, the strong growth is causing capacity issues for the power grid.
Rolf Heynen: “Particularly in the northern provinces grid operators are reaching their limits. This has already caused projects totalling 750 MWp to be put on hold: enough to provide power for nearly 200,000 households. This highlights the importance of upgrading the Dutch power grid to reach the government’s climate goals.”
More insight is available in the National Dutch Solar Trend Report 2020, the annual market report about and for the Dutch solar sector. The Trend Report is essential reading for businesses, trade organisations, government officials and politicians that require deep insight into all developments and trends within this sector.
