In 2017, an overall capacity of 853 Megawatt peak (MWp) has been installed in the Netherlands. Even if this number seems to be low in comparison with other international PV Markets, this number corresponds to a growth of 60 percent compared to the previous year.
After Pfalzsolar has realized especially large scale rooftop projects in the Netherlands in 2017, the German company already closed several EPC contracts for ground mounted PV power plants that will be completed in this year. Pfalzsolar starts this month with the construction of the first project, a ground mounted PV power plant in the Dutch province of Friesland. By the end of 2018, the company plans to install rooftop- and ground mounted projects with a total capacity in the high double-digit megawatt range as an EPC contractor in the Netherlands.
„Our business model extremely changed in recent years. We develop and realize significantly less large scale projects in Germany, but more and more in other European countries and in the U.S. The Netherlands developed a late but meaningful and sustainable stimulation program for renewable energy that creates a good investment climate for Photovoltaics. Therefore, it was a logical step for us to enter the Dutch PV market.” Explains Max Huber, Head of Project Development at Pfalzsolar.
With regards to this trend, Huber has mixed feelings: “We’re of course glad that we’re able to use the high growth potential of the Dutch PV market. But the energy transition in our own country is also very important for us and we feel that this is moving forward way too slow.” Thereby, Huber refers especially to the mandatory auctions for PV power plants with a capacity of more than 750 Kilowatt peak in Germany. This system would make it nearly impossible to build and operate large scale PV power plants economically.
The success of Pfalzsolar in the Dutch PV market is mainly based on two aspects: “On the one hand, we’re having a solid economic background as part of the Pfalzwerke Group, a leading energy supplier in the south west of Germany. This fact creates the necessary confidence for our investors. On the other hand, we’re able to offer the complete construction financing for large scale projects. This minimizes the risk for investors and creates additional security for long-term cooperation.” Says Max Huber.
SOLAR SOLUTIONS 21 + 22 March 2018
Next week, the „SOLAR SOLUTIONS“, the largest commercial platform for solar energy in the Netherlands and Belgium, takes place near Amsterdam and Pfalzsolar is going to exhibit again there. Last year, more than 5,000 trade visitors and 124 international exhibitors attended the fair. This year, the organizers expect an even higher number of visitors and exhibitors.
