It is becoming increasingly difficult to build solar parks and meadows in agricultural and natural areas. Outgoing ministers De Jonge and Jetten wrote to the House of Representatives that they had reached agreement on this issue with provinces, municipalities and water boards, among others.
This is only allowed in exceptional cases, for example when it concerns agricultural land that will be converted at some point or if the construction helps reduce “grid bottlenecks”.
Solar panels should preferably be installed on roofs and facades, but also in greenhouses, industrial areas, landfills and parking lots. This is followed by unused land in residential areas and unused land in rural areas.
Space is tight
The agreements were made, on the one hand, due to the increasing demand for sustainably produced electricity, and on the other hand, due to limited space. “In the past, the solar modules market was in a leading position and governments did not have a guiding spatial policy. (..) Now the government and other governments are taking the next step together,” the ministers write.
The states will make the agreements legally binding with their own regulations. The new system should come into force on January 1. Ongoing initiatives that are already at an advanced stage can, in principle, continue.
Holland Solar, the trade association for solar companies, is critical. The interest group believes that the decisions taken are detrimental to the sector, as well as to the energy transition, farmers and industrial companies wanting to be more sustainable, and the possibility of promoting natural development.
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
