7 The Netherlands
Expanding solar PV – risks and
uncertainties associated with
small- and large- scale options
Krisztina de Bruyn- Szendrei, Wytze van der Gaast,
and Eise Spijker
1
Introduction
According to recent projections (ECN, 2017), the Netherlands will not be able
to comply with its commitment under the 2008 Energy and Climate Package to
realise a 14% share for renewable energy consumption by 2020. Currently, only
about 6% of energy is generated from renewable sources, which is expected to
increase to, at most, 13% by 2020 (European Commission, 2017). In comparison, in several other EU member states – such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Romania, and Sweden – the
2020 targets have already been achieved. Other member states have not yet
done so but are on track. Next to the Netherlands, France and Luxemburg are
other member states that have not yet complied, nor are on track for realising
2020 renewable energy targets (European Commission, 2017).
In response to the slow progress, a policy package was prepared by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2016 with additional measures for reaching
the 14% target by 2020 (Kamp, 2016). While technically the options in the
package seem feasible, there are a range of barriers affecting their successful implementation, such as costs, spatial planning, and public acceptance issues.
To date, biomass (63% in 2016) and wind energy (24% in 2016) have been
responsible for the bulk of renewable energy production in the Netherlands
(CBS, 2017). Solar energy constitutes 5.4% of renewable energy in the country,
which is not a surprise given the relatively low solar radiation in this region of
Europe. Nevertheless, due to the ongoing debate on the sustainability of
(imported) biomass and the increasing difficulties related to expanding onshore
wind power in the Netherlands (RVO, 2017), expanding solar energy on
rooftops as well as on land and water has increasingly become an indispensable
option for complying with renewable energy commitments for 2020 and
beyond.
Solar energy can provide different energy services, such as for electricity,
heating, cooling, and transportation. Each of these services face challenges and
therefore risks, such as space needed for solar parks, extra costs to be borne
Expanding solar PV – risks and
uncertainties associated with
small- and large- scale options
Krisztina de Bruyn- Szendrei, Wytze van der Gaast,
and Eise Spijker
1
Introduction
According to recent projections (ECN, 2017), the Netherlands will not be able
to comply with its commitment under the 2008 Energy and Climate Package to
realise a 14% share for renewable energy consumption by 2020. Currently, only
about 6% of energy is generated from renewable sources, which is expected to
increase to, at most, 13% by 2020 (European Commission, 2017). In comparison, in several other EU member states – such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Romania, and Sweden – the
2020 targets have already been achieved. Other member states have not yet
done so but are on track. Next to the Netherlands, France and Luxemburg are
other member states that have not yet complied, nor are on track for realising
2020 renewable energy targets (European Commission, 2017).
In response to the slow progress, a policy package was prepared by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2016 with additional measures for reaching
the 14% target by 2020 (Kamp, 2016). While technically the options in the
package seem feasible, there are a range of barriers affecting their successful implementation, such as costs, spatial planning, and public acceptance issues.
To date, biomass (63% in 2016) and wind energy (24% in 2016) have been
responsible for the bulk of renewable energy production in the Netherlands
(CBS, 2017). Solar energy constitutes 5.4% of renewable energy in the country,
which is not a surprise given the relatively low solar radiation in this region of
Europe. Nevertheless, due to the ongoing debate on the sustainability of
(imported) biomass and the increasing difficulties related to expanding onshore
wind power in the Netherlands (RVO, 2017), expanding solar energy on
rooftops as well as on land and water has increasingly become an indispensable
option for complying with renewable energy commitments for 2020 and
beyond.
Solar energy can provide different energy services, such as for electricity,
heating, cooling, and transportation. Each of these services face challenges and
therefore risks, such as space needed for solar parks, extra costs to be borne