Policies in The Netherlands

Site selection in the Netherlands can be done in several different ways. Provincial destination plans may consist of sites where these projects can be developed. If this is not the case, projects can be constructed everywhere in the Netherlands providing all conditions for the necessary permits are met.
Electricity production licenses do not exist in the Netherlands. Instead, energy suppliers must acquire an energy supplier permit. The difference then is that the burden of getting a permit lies on the energy supplier rather than the electricity producers.
Depending on the used technology, some projects may have to apply for All-In-One permits for Physical Aspects (omgevingsvergunning – environmental permit). This depends on the technology that is used. Rooftop PV is often exempt, where ground-mounted PV always requires a permit.
The connection to the grid depends on an agreement between the grid operator and the plant operator. The plant operator is contractually entitled to grid access and therefore the grid operator must offer them an agreement when they apply for one.
The corporate legal-fiscal processes depend on the technology that is used. In the case of onshore wind and ground mounted PV projects, the procedure is mainly dependent on the SDE++ application procedure. However, for residential rooftop PV, the available support is mainly through the net-metering scheme.
Netherlands plans to have at least 27%. of all energy supplied from sustainable sources by 2030. In 2050, the energy supply must be completely CO2 free. The most important growth targets are planned for offshore wind (from 1 GW in 2019 to 4.5 GW GW in 2023 and 11 GW by 2030), onshore wind and rooftop and ground-mounted PV installations (it is planned that together they will generate 35 TWh of renewable energy by 2030), which is why the description of permit and authorization processes will focus on these RES-E technologies.

1. Site selection process
2. Electricity production licence process
3. Administrative authorisation process
4. Grid connection permit process
5. Corporate legal-fiscal process

• TSO / DSO
• Municipalities
• Ministry of Energy

The Dutch regulation on energy associations and cooperatives specifies that cooperatives and associations can only operate on the electricity sector and must be renewable energy based.
Article 7 (a) of the Electricity Act 1998 offers additional possibilities for community energy projects. It opens up the possibility for developments in transport, production, grid ownership through derogation as well as decentralized generated sustainable electricity.
Energy cooperatives and associations of owners generating electricity from solar energy, wind energy or hydropower can benefit from a premium tariff.
In the case when renewable electricity is consumed and generated by the same consumer a tax exemption is available. Apart from that, a net-metering scheme is applicable for prosumers

• Tax mechanism – tax exemption for the customer if the electricity consumed is from renewable energy sources and generation of this electricity is carried out by the consumer themselves
• Cooperative Energy Generation Subsidy Scheme – Premium tariff for Energy cooperatives and associations of owners generating electricity from solar energy, wind energy or hydropower
• Net-metring – a net-metering scheme for prosumers generating and consuming electricity from renewable energy sources.

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate

The Dutch RES policies support innovation through contracts and funding between private actors in order to encourage research and development. Further, the Dutch Government encourages the education of RES installers and facilitates voluntary trainings.

• Facilitation of market parties and specific organisations to set up training – aims to train RES installers
• Independent certification – an independent accredited certifying body governs certification of solar boilers and heat pumps
• Private-public cooperation – encourages research and development through partial funding of research and development projects

• Netherlands Enterprise Agency
• KOMO
• Topconsortium for Knowledge and Innovation