100,000 more roofs with solar panels in a year's time

The Solar Future NL highlights booming Dutch solar energy market

AMSTERDAM/ROTTERDAM - 25 MARCH 2014


As in previous years, the Dutch solar market has grown significantly in 2013. During the past year more than 100,000 solar panels were installed on new roofs, bringing the total number close to 200,000. The total power of solar energy increased by more than 82 percent.

This is evident from the latest figures that Peter Segaar gathered for the conference The Solar Future NL, which will be hosted by Solarplaza on May 27 in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. Blogger and market analyst Segaar is one of the experts who will be speaking.

During the conference, leading scientists, entrepreneurs and experts in the field of solar energy from home and abroad, gather to present the main developments in the market and new strategic insights. Among them are household names such as international energy guru Jeremy Leggett from the United Kingdom, the president of the French Solaire Direct; Thierry Lepercq, a world leader in solar energy project development, and Professor Wim Sinke; Holland's most experienced and greatest solar energy expert.

The Dutch network operators recorded 101,326 new installations last year, the majority at private homes. These have a combined capacity of over 300 megawatts solar power. In comparison, in the United States, there were "only" 140,000 installations in 2013, also mostly residential. The total wattage in the Netherlands increased with 82 percent, from 365 to 665 megawatts. The actual growth rate is probably even higher because operators do not register all capacity in the Netherlands.

The largest growth in the Netherlands is in the solar panels on the roofs of private homes. "A phenomenon that you see in other international growth markets as well. It is motivating to see that your neighbor has this. You do not want to lag behind" says Edwin Koot, CEO of Solarplaza.

"Moreover, in the Netherlands it is currently more profitable to invest on your roof than to put it in a bank account. In this case you would rather take the lead and show that you are investing in ecofriendly solutions".

The growth is further fueled by corporate procurement actions, which cause the low price of solar panels to drop further, and the now more than 300 local cooperatives and civil initiatives. This means that people work together to get larger systems installed in a variety of buildings, from schools to business rooftops.

The increased demand for solar panels provide more jobs for suppliers and contractors. The Netherlands now has more than 1,100 suppliers of solar systems, some 300 more than the 800 that were reported last May.

The Solar Future will be held for the sixth time straight. The conference has become the meeting place for all key players in the Dutch solar energy market. One of the important questions during the conference is: What will the netting in the Netherlands look like in the coming years? Currently people may deliver their power from solar panels back into the grid, and this will be deducted from their energy bills. As a result, the government misses out on energy taxes, SDE-charge and VAT.

More information about these experts and the conference can be found at www.thesolarfuturenl.com

Featured Product

Introducing RockIt Smart Slide

Introducing RockIt Smart Slide

Introducing RockIt Smart Slide - the ultimate solution for fast and easy installation of the rail-less RockIt racking system on composition shingle roofs. Smart Slide conforms to UL 441 and TAS 100 (A)-95 for wind and wind-driven rain, providing a super-strong watertight seal that is achieved through compression, in most cases without the need for additional sealant. The waterproofing sealant is embedded deep into the granules of the shingle, thanks to the integrated flexible foam layer that provides cushioning. This ensures a secure fit that conforms to any architectural-style shingle. With UltraGrip Technology™, you can rely on a secure installation, as it absorbs the movement created by thermal expansion and contraction. The pre-installed sealing pads are compatible with all composition shingle roofs, making it the ideal choice, even in ambient temperatures as low as 5 degrees.