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Clean energy for EU islands
Regulatory informationPermits and Authorisation Processes

Site selection process

Abbreviated form of legal source

  • Spatial Planning Act
  • Nature Conservation Act
  • Water Act

Description of the process

Site selection is of great importance in the Netherlands and is often subject to conflict due to limited space in the country. For onshore wind projects this therefore means that the site selection is not strictly bound to legislation. Provincial destination plans may consist of sites where these projects can take place. If this is not the case, projects can be constructed everywhere in the Netherlands providing all conditions for the necessary permits are met. For rooftop and ground mounted PV, the site selection takes place on the basis of a Solar Ladder, which determines the preferred order of location. In the case of offshore wind projects, these are often subject to a tendering system which means the location is pre-defined.

Competent authority  

  • Municipalities
  • Ministry of Energy

Technologies

Wind energy onshore

Relevant

Wind energy offshore

Relevant

Solar energy

Relevant

Solar Thermal
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy
Aerothermal
Hydrothermal
Hydro-power
Biogas
Biogas
Biomass