Netherlands

Solar applications under the Dutch SDE+ tender reached 2.6 GW in the first half of the year, said Dutch solar industry association Holland Solar, with country on course to become GW-scale market shortly.

Around 525 MW of installed PV was connected to the grid in the Netherlands in 2016, according to provisional numbers provided by the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

Solar dominated the first round of the Netherlands’ 2017 SDE+ program for large-scale renewable energy projects, accounting for 69.4% of all preassigned capacity. Overall, 4,484 PV projects proposals totaling 2,647 MW were accepted.

The Dutch power provider has acquired Belgian utility Eni Belgium and a larger share in Belgium’s power market. The company said that it will now invest in new power production in the country, especially in solar and wind.

PV equipment supplier Tempress has announced the beginning of construction on a 400 kW installation close to its headquarters in the Netherlands, which will be the largest in Europe to feature glass-glass bifacial modules.

The Dutch market keeps showing signs of sustained growth. Estimated new installed PV power for 2016 is expected to surpass 500 MW, while another 600 MW is forecast for this year. Several PV projects developed under the SDE+ program for large-scale renewable energy projects began to come online in the past months.

The Dutch, Belgian and German R&D partnership sets world record for roll-to-roll perovskite/based solar cells, working alongside Dyesol, VDL Enabling Technologies Group, Smit Thermal Solutions and Bosch-Rexroth.

The Dutch subsidiary of Swedish energy giants Vattenfall has announced plans to add 70 MW of PV capacity at six windfarms located across the country. Plans to include storage applications at at least one of the sites are also in the works.

The German solar developer announced operation of the 30 MW Sunport Delfzijl Solar Park in the Delflzijler harbor area, close to the Dutch city of Groningen.