In the De Broeikas section, climate reporter Jeroen Kraan writes every week about what strikes him. This week: Negative electricity prices are a good reason to throw a bread in the oven, not to sprinkle subsidies for solar parks without storage.
My solar panels enjoy the beautiful weather, just like me. And because we now have so many panels in the Netherlands, it was hit again last weekend: quite negative power prices. If you had a dynamic energy contract, such as me, you got up to 28 cents per kilowatt hour that you used.
Delivering power back from my solar panels cost money; So they went out (automatically). By baking bread I earned back the costs of the ingredients.
Nice news, you would think. In the supermarket I have never received money with my bread. But because of those low prices, solar entrepreneurs are starting to murmur. They receive subsidies to keep their solar parks and roofs profitable if the power prices are low. That’s fine, it has quickly greened the power supply in the Netherlands.
But it is also right that new solar parks will no longer receive a subsidy at negative prices. After all, their electricity is not necessary for a while and we do not want to encourage them to send the net on the net.
More subsidy does not solve this problem
Now there are more and more moments like that. For many solar park farmers it is a shock: the subsidy infusion is being squeezed at more and more moments. To keep the solar parks profitable, the sector has come up with a brilliant solution. Subsidy! Not for the hours with negative prices – that would be just too brutal – but a higher subsidy for the hours without negative prices.
In de Volkskrant, even the Netherlands Environment Netherlands Environment supports this plan. “A little entrepreneurial risk is okay, but the question is when you can still have this at the expense of the entrepreneur,” said researcher Sander Lensink. Climate minister Sophie Hermans has the measure examined.
But giving up a subsidy against solar parks is not going to solve this problem. If we continue like this, the number of hours with negative prices will only grow further, and the subsidy for the other hours should therefore also increase further to keep solar parks profitable.
Battery obligation deleted
With the negative prices, the market gives a signal: please drop this electricity! The solution is therefore to do that, and especially with batteries. A few hours after the prices had been so negative, gas plants were already roaring again. With more storage capacity, solar power becomes more valuable during the day and we are more sustainable in the evening.
The previous cabinet therefore wanted to oblige the placement of batteries at new solar parks. That results in extra costs, so there would be a subsidy scheme for the purchase of the batteries. The Cabinet Schoof also seemed to be a good idea initially: the scheme would be opened this year.
Now the cabinet has made a sharp twist. The subsidy and the battery obligation have suddenly been deleted this spring. But the need to build batteries has not diminished.
Bake a bread
Fortunately there is a shot in that: even without a subsidy, the number of batteries will grow rapidly in the coming years, as you can see in the above figures from the SolarPower Europe industry organization.
Hermans therefore does not have to be seduced into additional subsidies for solar parks without storage. Just as we should not continue to stimulate households to always deliver unlimited electricity from their solar panels. Are there negative prices? Turn them off or bake a bread.
In the column The Greenhouse , Climate Reporter Jeroen Kraan Writes Weekly about what he notices. This week: negative electricity prices are a good reason to throw bread in the oven, not to sprinkle subsidies for solar parks without storage.
My Solar Panels Really Enjoy the Nice Weather, Just Like I Do. And because we now have so many panels in the Netherlands, it happened again last weekend: heavy negative electricity prices. If you had a Dynamic Energy Contract, Like I Did, You would recyive up to 28 euros cents per kilowatt hour that you used.
Returning Electricity from My Solar Panels Actual Cost Money; So They Went Off (Automatically). By Baking Bread I Earned Back the Cost of the Ingredients.
Good news, you would think. I have never recedived money at the supermarket with my bread. But due to these low prices, solar entrepreneurs are starting to grumble. They recurreive subsidies to keep their solar parks and roofs profitable when electricity prices are low. That is fine, it has quickly made the electricity supply in the Netherlands greener.
But it is also right that new solar parks no longer recoive subsidies at negative prices. Their Electricity is not needed for the time being and we do not want to encourage them to still send electricity to the grid.
More subsidy does not solve this problem
Now there are more and more of thesis child or moment. For Many Solar Park Farmers it is a shock: the subsidy drip is be off at more and more moments. In order to keep the solar parks profitable, the sector Has Come up with a Brilliant Solution. Subsidy! Not for the hours with negative prices – that would be a little too cheeky – but a higher subsidy for the hours without negative prices.
In de Volkskrant , even The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency Supports This Plan. “A Little Entrepreneurial Risk is okay, but the question is when you can leave this to the entrepreneur,” Said Researcher Sander Lensink. Climate Minister Sophie Hermans is Having the Measure Investigated.
But throwing more subsidies at Solar Parks will not solve this problem. If we continuously like this, the number of hours with negative prices will only to grow, and the subsidy for the remoining hours would have therefore have to get further and further to keep solar parks profitable.
Battery obligation scrapped
With the negative prices, the market is sending a signal: please take this electricity! The Solution is Therefore to do that, and as special with batteries. A Few Hours after the prices had leg so negative, gas-fired power plants were alreamy roaring again. With More Storage Capacity, Solar Power Becomes More Valuable Duration the Day and We Are More Sustainable In The Evening.
The Previous Cabinet Therefore Wanted to Make the Installation of Batteries Compulsory at New Solar Parks. This Involves Extra Costs, So There would be a subsidy Scheme for the purchase of the batteries. The Schoof Cabinet also initially seemed to think this was a good idea: The Scheme would be opened this year.
Now the Cabinet Has Made a Sharp U-Turn. The subsidy and the battery obligation have sauddenly leg scrapped this spring. But the need to build batteries has not diminished.
Bake A Bread
Fortunately, There is Progress: Even Without Subsidies, The Number of Batteries Will Grow Rapidly in the Coming Years, As You Can See In The Figures Above Industry Organization Solarpower Europe.
Hermans does not have to be tempted into additional subsidies for solar parks without storage. Just as we must not constinue to Encourage Households to Always Supply Unlimited Electricity from Their Solar Panels. Are there negative prices? Turn them off, or bake some bread.