The Netherlands 119
gross production of the electricity was generated from renewable sources, to
which solar energy contributed 13%).
In order to understand uncertainties around scaling up solar energy in the
Netherlands and how these could transform into risks, this chapter has focused
on expanding electricity production through solar (PV). We did this by assessing the pathway of upscaling small- scale solar panel use in the built environment (e.g. on rooftops of households, small businesses, and schools) and
large- scale applications of solar panels on land and infrastructure (e.g. largerscale rooftop projects and ground- mounted solar parks).
Essentially, for reaching the 14% renewable energy target as well as targets
beyond 2020, the Netherlands needs both solar PV options. At the same time,
it is realised that scaling up solar PV can have negative impacts on society and
the economy, which could be considered as consequential risks. Moreover, due
to the existence of several implementation barriers there is a risk that a pathway
cannot be implemented or will be implemented at a later stage or on a smaller
scale. Both types of risks could block expanding solar PV in the Netherlands at
the scale desired for complying with EU energy and climate commitments. For
instance, replacing conventional energy sources with solar PV applications may
have negative impacts on grid stability or could negatively affect the government’s fiscal budget. Examples of implementation risks are that solar parks may
not fit into existing spatial plans, may face social resistance, and that only a
small fraction of dwellings and buildings are suitable for panels.
Notes
1 JIN Climate and Sustainability, Groningen, the Netherlands. We acknowledge the
support by Gert- Jan Kok during the preparation of the manuscript.
2 The SDE+ subsidy scheme, called Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie (or ‘support
to sustainable energy production’; the ‘+’ refers to the revision of the scheme in 2011),
is based on a feed- in tariff which guarantees that renewable energy producers receive
an electricity price that is sufficient for covering investment and exploitation costs
with a fair profit margin for the entire subsidy period. For each round, the feed- in
tariffs are determined by the government for each renewable energy technology, for a
fixed amount of full load hours and adjusted to market developments. The SDE+
budget is allocated according to a merit order.
3 With a small- scale energy connection of 3 × 80 Amp.
4 Risk elicitation of expanding solar PV in other member states can be found in Lüthi
and Wüstenhagen (2012), Dusonchet and Telaretti (2015), and Del Rio and MirArtigues (2012).
5 This policy provides a financially attractive incentive for households and small businesses that produce solar power, use part of it, and feed the rest back to the electricity
grid (net metering is then the difference between what is taken from and given to the
grid).
6 The modelling exercise was done with help of the Business Strategy Assessment Model
(BSAM). It is an agent- based model that is used in the TRANSrisk project for case
study analysis.
gross production of the electricity was generated from renewable sources, to
which solar energy contributed 13%).
In order to understand uncertainties around scaling up solar energy in the
Netherlands and how these could transform into risks, this chapter has focused
on expanding electricity production through solar (PV). We did this by assessing the pathway of upscaling small- scale solar panel use in the built environment (e.g. on rooftops of households, small businesses, and schools) and
large- scale applications of solar panels on land and infrastructure (e.g. largerscale rooftop projects and ground- mounted solar parks).
Essentially, for reaching the 14% renewable energy target as well as targets
beyond 2020, the Netherlands needs both solar PV options. At the same time,
it is realised that scaling up solar PV can have negative impacts on society and
the economy, which could be considered as consequential risks. Moreover, due
to the existence of several implementation barriers there is a risk that a pathway
cannot be implemented or will be implemented at a later stage or on a smaller
scale. Both types of risks could block expanding solar PV in the Netherlands at
the scale desired for complying with EU energy and climate commitments. For
instance, replacing conventional energy sources with solar PV applications may
have negative impacts on grid stability or could negatively affect the government’s fiscal budget. Examples of implementation risks are that solar parks may
not fit into existing spatial plans, may face social resistance, and that only a
small fraction of dwellings and buildings are suitable for panels.
Notes
1 JIN Climate and Sustainability, Groningen, the Netherlands. We acknowledge the
support by Gert- Jan Kok during the preparation of the manuscript.
2 The SDE+ subsidy scheme, called Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie (or ‘support
to sustainable energy production’; the ‘+’ refers to the revision of the scheme in 2011),
is based on a feed- in tariff which guarantees that renewable energy producers receive
an electricity price that is sufficient for covering investment and exploitation costs
with a fair profit margin for the entire subsidy period. For each round, the feed- in
tariffs are determined by the government for each renewable energy technology, for a
fixed amount of full load hours and adjusted to market developments. The SDE+
budget is allocated according to a merit order.
3 With a small- scale energy connection of 3 × 80 Amp.
4 Risk elicitation of expanding solar PV in other member states can be found in Lüthi
and Wüstenhagen (2012), Dusonchet and Telaretti (2015), and Del Rio and MirArtigues (2012).
5 This policy provides a financially attractive incentive for households and small businesses that produce solar power, use part of it, and feed the rest back to the electricity
grid (net metering is then the difference between what is taken from and given to the
grid).
6 The modelling exercise was done with help of the Business Strategy Assessment Model
(BSAM). It is an agent- based model that is used in the TRANSrisk project for case
study analysis.