106 Krisztina de Bruyn-Szendrei et al.
when purchasing and operating the panels, and social aspects related to energy
switch and acceptance of the technology. This chapter focuses on the possible
consequences of expanding electricity production through solar energy. This has
several common aspects and potential risks with other renewable energy sources
but faces additional risks related to grid balancing.
Despite their current small share of solar- based power production in the
Netherlands, ground- mounted parks could potentially become at least as
important as rooftop PV (DNV GL, 2016). Therefore, in this chapter, both
technology options for solar PV are considered for a pathway towards expansion
of electricity production in the Netherlands through rooftop solar panels and
large- scale solar parks. Possible consequences (risks) of this pathway for society
and the economy are elaborated, as well as potential barriers that could prevent
successful scaling up of the technology options in the country.
The Dutch pathway towards solar PV
In October 2017, the newly elected Netherlands coalition government
announced a national climate and energy accord with the goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 49% by 2030 (below 1990 levels) (VVD,
CDA, D66, ChristenUnie, 2017). This goal corresponds with an emission
reduction of 56 Mton CO 2 , on top of reductions through existing and planned
policies for mitigation in the Netherlands. Eighteen Mton of that reduction will
be obtained through the accelerated phase out of coal plants, which means that
alternative electricity sources need to be utilised, including solar PV.
With a view to the recent policy context in the Netherlands, this chapter
analyses potential consequences and implementation barriers related to a
desired future with large- scale application of solar PV for reaching Dutch and
European energy and climate goals, as well as a trajectory with actions to realise
that (a pathway). As part of the pathway, we consider two options: (1) the
upscaling of rooftop solar panel use in the built environment with a focus on
households, small businesses, schools, etc.; and (2) large- scale applications of
solar PV, such as through ground- mounted solar parks of high output.
The starting point for the pathway is that, presently, the installed solarpower capacity of the Netherlands is 2.7 GW p (CBS, 2018), 94% of which is
based on rooftop solar panels on dwellings and buildings; the remainder is based
on ground- mounted solar parks (176 MW p ) (Zon op Kaart, 2018). According to
the National Solar Power Action Plan for 2016 (DNV GL, 2016), 4 GWp of
installed capacity could be achieved by 2020 (about 12 PJ of generated solar
power, assuming 850 load hours). Technically, however, the potential is much
bigger. Nowadays, only about 450,000 dwellings in the Netherlands are
equipped with solar PV rooftop panels, while potentially around four million
roofs are suitable for that (which is around half of the total number of dwellings
in the Netherlands). Should this technical potential be utilised, in addition to
the roofs of industrial and utility buildings, solar PV capacity could grow to
70 GWp in 2075 (DNV GL, 2016). Fully utilising the technical potential of
when purchasing and operating the panels, and social aspects related to energy
switch and acceptance of the technology. This chapter focuses on the possible
consequences of expanding electricity production through solar energy. This has
several common aspects and potential risks with other renewable energy sources
but faces additional risks related to grid balancing.
Despite their current small share of solar- based power production in the
Netherlands, ground- mounted parks could potentially become at least as
important as rooftop PV (DNV GL, 2016). Therefore, in this chapter, both
technology options for solar PV are considered for a pathway towards expansion
of electricity production in the Netherlands through rooftop solar panels and
large- scale solar parks. Possible consequences (risks) of this pathway for society
and the economy are elaborated, as well as potential barriers that could prevent
successful scaling up of the technology options in the country.
The Dutch pathway towards solar PV
In October 2017, the newly elected Netherlands coalition government
announced a national climate and energy accord with the goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 49% by 2030 (below 1990 levels) (VVD,
CDA, D66, ChristenUnie, 2017). This goal corresponds with an emission
reduction of 56 Mton CO 2 , on top of reductions through existing and planned
policies for mitigation in the Netherlands. Eighteen Mton of that reduction will
be obtained through the accelerated phase out of coal plants, which means that
alternative electricity sources need to be utilised, including solar PV.
With a view to the recent policy context in the Netherlands, this chapter
analyses potential consequences and implementation barriers related to a
desired future with large- scale application of solar PV for reaching Dutch and
European energy and climate goals, as well as a trajectory with actions to realise
that (a pathway). As part of the pathway, we consider two options: (1) the
upscaling of rooftop solar panel use in the built environment with a focus on
households, small businesses, schools, etc.; and (2) large- scale applications of
solar PV, such as through ground- mounted solar parks of high output.
The starting point for the pathway is that, presently, the installed solarpower capacity of the Netherlands is 2.7 GW p (CBS, 2018), 94% of which is
based on rooftop solar panels on dwellings and buildings; the remainder is based
on ground- mounted solar parks (176 MW p ) (Zon op Kaart, 2018). According to
the National Solar Power Action Plan for 2016 (DNV GL, 2016), 4 GWp of
installed capacity could be achieved by 2020 (about 12 PJ of generated solar
power, assuming 850 load hours). Technically, however, the potential is much
bigger. Nowadays, only about 450,000 dwellings in the Netherlands are
equipped with solar PV rooftop panels, while potentially around four million
roofs are suitable for that (which is around half of the total number of dwellings
in the Netherlands). Should this technical potential be utilised, in addition to
the roofs of industrial and utility buildings, solar PV capacity could grow to
70 GWp in 2075 (DNV GL, 2016). Fully utilising the technical potential of