In the Netherlands 525 MW of solar power capacity was installed in 2016, bringing total solar capacity to 2 GW, which supplied 1.5% of Dutch electricity generation, according to the National Solar Trend Report 2017 (available here in Dutch), a collaboration of many private and public players in the Dutch solar sector.
The new capacity was slightly higher than in 2015, when 467 MW was installed. The port of Rotterdam imported 11.2 million solar panels in 2016 with a value of €1.5 billion. Some 9 million panels were re-exported or stored temporarily, the rest was used in the country itself. A huge shift took place in the origin of the panels: in January 2016, some 63% still came from China, in December that was only 17%. Over the full year, the Chinese share declined from 58% in 2015 to 38% in 2016. By contrast, imports from Vietnam rose from zero in 2015 to 31% in2016. Malaysia and Singapore were the other large suppliers.
All panels came from Asia. The modules came from China (40%), Germany (19%), Japan (11%), US/Canada (8%). The Dutch solar sector offered 9,275 full-time jobs last year and generated revenues of €2.5 billion.
Average module prices were stable for the second year in a row. The price of inverters was also stable. Efficiency improved considerably. In particular cadmium-telluride (CdTe) thin-film panels, organic solar cells and multi-junction solar cells showed much higher efficiencies.
The objective of the 2016 National Solar Action Plan – an initiative of technical consultancy DNV GL, supported by a broad spectrum of market participants (banks, producers, network companies, insurance companies, energy suppliers, research institutes) – is to have 10 GW of solar power installed in 2023. Studies show that the built environment in the Netherlands could accommodate some 70 GW of solar capacity, notes the Trend Report. The long-term potential of solar power in the Netherlands could be as high as 200 GW, according to the report.
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Math Geurts says
As long as subsidies are too high prices will not go down. Germany has proven this already in the past..
Helmut Frik says
The prices have already dropped a lot in the last half year. No changes in tarifs anyway.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
The Netherlands with it’s limited amount of available space, would be better off with the Compact 630MWe SMR Nuclear technology becoming available from China for export within 6 Years. Further to this but longer away is the research carried out in the Netherlands on the Thorium MSR Reactor. http://thmsr.nl
Helmut Frik says
Well, The nethaerlands have more than enough spas for solar on the roofs, and more than enough ocean for offshore wind pwoer, and enough power lines across the borders to power the countrie when there is no wind locally.
The proposed costs they hope to reach for the chinese SMR reactor are already above the costs of todays wind and solar projects, and hope is usually significantly different from reality, especially in case of nuclear.
And the netherlands do not have enough space to survive a failing reactor. So I guess they will not wait till sotimes, somehow, somewhere the nuleas messias reactor will show up which is finally as cheap as it was promised for more than half a century, and will finally be safe even in aspects the constructing engineers never thought of. If some SMR showes up somewhere, and is really cheap, and shows a perfectly safe record over many decades, the people in the netherlands can still switch to nuclear in 50 or 100 years from now. Wind and solar equipment can be scraped after use without leaving hazadourus wastes.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
Helmut Frik – No need to fly of your seat, I am fully aware on the Netherlands having offshore wind power, and have nothing against it. This thread is about solar and not wind. Also I don’t have anything against roof top PV solar. What I don’t like is on shore wind and large solar farms ruining the landscape of a densely populated country like the Netherlands. For that reason I made my comment on the future use of small SMR nuclear reactors. Even a good number of my own countries scientist http://thmsr.nl/ are in favour of this. However commercial MSR is still some 10 to 15 years away. However, small SMR’s only 5 years.
Helmut Frik says
Well rooftop solar is more than enough from the solar side in the netherlands, and there are also parking areas, landfills, and a lot of water surface which can be used. Beside this the nethernand have some onshoe wind power too, and if the people dont object against it they naturally can build more.
So what use should a overpriced SMR reactor be? So far the price tags attached to it are too high to be competitive, and give a cause to accept the risks which come along with it.
Math Geurts says
Indeed, the costs per kWh are high but the value and the contribution of solar-PV for the energy supply of the Netherlands is and will be very limited. No space and no need for solar parks.
Helmut Frik says
Calculate the roofspace in the netherlands in m², multiply it with 200W according todays efficencies, and find out that it’s possible to suppy substantial parts of enegry consumption of the netherlands with Solar. Add parking areas and you get even further. Add Water areas which are not useable in other ways, and you get more power than needed. There is no lack of energy forseeable for the netherlands.
Math Geurts says
Remains the awfull mismatch in time of PV. The Netherlands needs windturbines for the winter, and these produce more than enough energy in the summer.
Helmut Frik says
No, not in europe. Wind in summer is below power demand if it fits in average in winter. Solar fills this gap, a roughly 1:1 mixture (in kWp) fits best to the seasonality of demand. For this amount of solar power there are more than enough roofs and similar areas in the netherlands.
Omar alghali says
how much different is the usage between wind vs solar energy?
Math Geurts says
In Europe’s power market the role of the Netherlands is off-shore wind. The HV-grids and interconnectors needed for export off-shore wind power can be used for importing cheap solar power in summer.
Nigel West says
Solar is not a good solution in northern Europe. Output is negligible during the winter for days on end. A typical home consumes 20kWhr a day so not enough space for solar. To cover lulls would require much more capacity and battery storage costs would be prohibitive.
“Add Water areas which are not useable in other ways”
Floating solar panels in the north sea perhaps!
Helmut Frik says
That’s why ther is Offshre and onshore wind, ant there is something called Grid, to smooth out variability of local output. here is the possibility to import power from areas which have more than enough wind pwoer at that time. Grid connections of the netherlands are quite strong, and expansions are under way.
Nigel West says
That’s not a reliable enough solution. Conventional plant enables demand to be met smoothly during lulls.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
I just love the ways Denmark runs their grid, they are only a small country but look after their need very well. http://www.energinet.dk/EN/El/Sider/Elnettet.aspx?target=el_net
Helmut Frik says
Powr supply from wind and solar are completely reliable, there is no need for conventional plants.
But you can keep running against physics and mathermathics if you like.
Netherlands stste grid operator seems to be heading towards a lot of offshore power and towards a strong north sea grid.
Providing power for a fraction of the cost UK is planning for their nuclear adventure.
Nigel West says
“Power supply from wind and solar are completely reliable,”
Yes – if one has a large fan to keep air moving over wind turbine blades during a lull, and a strong lamp to shine on solar panels at night…..
Helmut – just what is your definition of reliable? I am intrigued.
Just because weather is predictable to a good accuracy a few days ahead say, that doesn’t make wind/solar a reliable generation technology.
You only need to look at a TSOs assumptions on wind power availability months ahead – negligible at peak demand times in the UK.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frik – Sometimes the wind blows the wind away. Aren’t we facing some Climate Change. Never Ever, Who Knows. Some may decide to spend more money as they like the insurance of energy security.
Helmut Frik says
Nigel, wind and solar in big grids are not only prdictable they are constantly present with enough output. So that’s my definition of reliability.
As you need several conventional power stations to have a reliable output, you need enough regions interconnected to have a reliable renewable output.
You can design renewable powerd systems to the amount of reliability you like, as well as you can do it with conventional pwoer generation.
It is just being done differently in deatail. But I know you insist to ignore the physics and mathemathics behind this, to pretend there is a basic problem with the local variability of wind and solar. That vaiability you cary in front of you like a ostensory.
Maybe you have invested too much money in nuclear power companies to be able to allow you to understand.
As someone said: it’s hard to make a person understand, who’s income depends on not understanding.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frik – how funny to suggest that Nigel invested too much money in nuclear power companies to be able to allow him to understand your argument. I didn’t know that ones intellect is influenced by electricity generation, unless its zapped by HV or Microwaves.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frik – I am also against the use of water surface to be used. You quote that the people of the Netherlands don’t object against it, they naturally can build more. Who are you, your are a German. My family and Dutch friends are against it.
Helmut Frik says
Hedrikus, dont tell wrong things about what I said. I said “if the people dont object against it they naturally can build more.”
It is surely the right of the people in the netherlands to decide in this direction, and you are not in the position to order them not to do so.
The same about the use of water surfaces. The question was if there is enough space which can be used for PV without interfering with other use. People are always free not to use some area.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frik – it’s a nobrainer that I am not in a position to order them, but I can vote with them for being against solar farms ruining the landscape and any form of renewables using recreational water surfaces.
Helmut Frik says
Again beating a strawman? I did not speak about recreational water areas. I did talk about water areas which have no other use.
Math Geurts says
“No other use”? The Netherlands is not Germany.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frik – Did you talk about water areas which have no other use. You did not clarify that earlier on. FYI – I just checked and found that there are zero of those areas in the Netherlands. (LoL)…
Helmut Frik says
Hendrik:
You said “@Helmut Frik – Did you talk about water areas which have no other use. You did not clarify that ”
I did write “Add Water areas which are not useable in other ways”
Who is able to read has clear advantages.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frik –” water areas usable in other ways”. That is not a definition. Can you tell me where they are located.?
Helmut Frik says
“@Helmut Frik –” water areas usable in other ways”. That is not a definition. Can you tell me where they are located.?” Why should I it’s up to the people in the netherlands to decide about this.
But simple statistics: there are about 10.000km² of internal water surfaces in the netherland. 0.1% of this, equipped with 150W/m² , and single axis tracking (rotating a round field of panels which is swimming is a extrremely easy task once per day) would provide 15 GW and 20TWh of electric power, about 1/3 of photovoltaic power which would be suitable for todays optimum mix of wind and solar.
There should be more than 500km² of usable roof surface in the netherlands, allowing another 75GW photovoltaics, much more than needed. There is never a lack of space for photovolaics.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frika round field of panels which is swimming is a extrremely easy task.
So now we already have swimming solar panels suitable for the Netherlands. Only kidding…lol
Math Geurts says
There is no Dutch optimum. Only a European. That optimum does hardly needs Dutch solar.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frik – So what use should a overpriced SMR be,? Just wait and see, the Chinese rule the market with Wind Turbines and Solar System. By 2023 they will start the same with SMR Technology.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Helmut Frik – […] The Chinese are planing to export the HTR-PM 630 MWe and unveiled their plans to begin converting some 400 coal plants with safe SMR nuclear starting in the 2020’s.
http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2016/12/chinas-plans-to-begin-converting-coal.html
Helmut Frik says
So let’s see if and how this will happen with the given price tag, and witht the fact that the chnese coal power station run a average of 4000 hours per year, the project looks overpriced with 5000$/kWp, and also with 2000-2500$/kWp, compared to power generated by solar and wind. The project might have been interesting – if successfull – 20 years ago, if the sideeffects of nuclear are ignored, or considered less svere than the price advatage which might have existed then.
But first we have to see if it works, or if it runs into similar problems like Hamm Ăśntrup.
Nigel West says
Will be many SMR applications in Europe too for replanting coal fired capacity I am sure. Clearly the Chinese don’t want to waste money replacing firm coal with intermittent renewables as they would need back-up and extensive grid reinforcement. China must have looked at Germany and realised old coal stations have to be kept running indefinitely! China will not want to make that mistake for sure.
Helmut Frik says
Well, they would have to come fast, coal power stations are phased out with rising speed. They are loosing money under todays market condition. And since there is no way to earn back the investment in the reactor under todays market conditions, I do not see any investment in this. A SMR as peaker plant does not work. And no other task than peaking remains in euiopean grid in the next years.
Omar alghali says
When the amount of solar energy reserves increases that means more supply, shouldn’t the cost of it decrease due to the natural law of supply & demand? Bringing up good points in here. Great article.
Hendrikus Degenaar says
@Omar alghali – I can’t see the Netherlands making much of a move to PV Solar. They have plenty of Off and On Shore Wind.
Math Geurts says
Good to know: this off-shore wind farm will produce more kWh’s than all Dutch solar panels installed before 2017 together. As a result of this wind farm the costs of off-shore wind farms declined with a speed never seen before, even not with PV.