Solar panels are the sustainable success story of this century. Year after year, global production of solar energy continues to exceed all expectations. This summer, 10 percent of all electricity in the world will come from the sun.
That may not sound like much, but is a doubling in three years. In the Netherlands, solar panels are so popular that the electricity that comes out has plummeted in value. That yields a lot, but at the same time we should make us proud. In no time our electricity system has been redesigned and the corresponding CO2 emissions have fallen.
Now we are champion panels, but decades ago the Netherlands was already a leader in the solar research. That lesser -known history is extensively told in the book Zon in the Polder, published this week.
From the 1970s, the Netherlands became a hotspot of research into ‘alternative energy’, says solar man Wim Soppe, one of the three authors of the book. “We have been really pioneers from time to time.”
Sun was (briefly) core activity of Shell
The production of solar cells has also not always been a Chinese affair. From 1982, solar cells were produced in Helmond, at a factory that quickly became part of Shell. In the 1990s, 2.5 megawatts rolled out of the factory a year. Now a pittance – about six thousand modern solar panels – but then it was a lot.
It went so well that solar energy was even labeled as new core activity from Shell. In the preface of Zon in the Polder, Diederik Samsom writes that he came to the Shell shareholders’ meeting in the year 2000 – then as an activist at Greenpeace to demand the construction of much larger sun factories. But the company found that completely unrealistic.
A few years later, Shell decided to focus again on oil and gas; The sun branch was sold for a bargain price. The huge factories that Greenpeace hoped for came, but then in China. The panels they made were dumped on the European market at soil prices. It would ultimately give us an energy evolution, but the European production of solar panels has almost completely disappeared.
European purchasing is empty intention
It is a pity that Europe gives soles of solar panel production once for China. It would really be a shame if we now also let that happen with all kinds of other technologies that are important for the energy transition. “Then you lose something fundamental,” says Emeritus Professor Wim Sinke, the other Wim who wrote to the book.
Take the electrolysers needed to produce green hydrogen: there are various European manufacturers who make it, but they too now have formidable competition from China, while the hydrogen economy still has to get off the ground.
Although the words ‘ buy European ‘ are in vogue in Brussels, it is still an empty intention. For example, companies that have received hundreds of millions of euros in subsidies to build water -solid factories are not obliged to use European technology, a spokesperson for the RVO implementing organization confirms.
Is gone
Once something has disappeared, you will have a hard time back. That turned out again when the National Groeifonds abandoned a further investment in the SolarNL project this summer, which wanted to retrieve the production of solar technology to the Netherlands. Due to the dominance of China, that is “no longer realistic,” concluded an advisory committee.
“I can follow that, no matter how tragic it is,” says Sinke. According to him, European researchers and companies have to look for new, innovative forms of solar energy, which distinguish themselves from the standard panels that we get with millions from China. For example, flexible ‘solar oils’ based on the material perovskiet.
The good news: according to Sinke, we now also have to underestimate the potential of solar energy. According to him, the murmur over full current nets and return costs is no more than a bump in a continuous revolution. “We have no idea what is coming to us.”
Solar Panels are the Sustainable Success Story of this Century. Year after year, Global Solar Energy Production Continues to Exceed All Expectations. This Summer, 10 percent of all electricity in the world will come from the sun.
That may not sound like much, but it is a doubling in three years. In The Netherlands, Solar Panels Are So Popular That The Electricity They Produce Has Plummeted in Value. That causes a lot of grumbling, but should also make us proud. In no time at all, our electricity system has gymnastics upside down and the associated co2 emissions have fallen.
Now we are champions at installing panels, but decades ago the Netherlands was already a leader in Solar Research. That lesser-Known History is extensively told in the book Zon in the polder , published this week.
From the 1970s Onards, The Netherlands Became a hotspot for research Into ‘Alternative Energy’, Says Solar Pioneer Wim Soppe, One of the Three Authors of the Book. “We Have Really Been Pioneers at Times.”
The Sun Was (Letterly) A Core Activity of Shell
The Production of Solar Cells Has Not Always Been a Chinese Affair Either. From 1982, Solar Cells Were Produced in Helmond, at A Factory That Soon Became Part of Shell. In the 1990s, 2.5 megawatts per year rolled out of the factory. Now a Pittance – About Six Thousand Modern Solar Panels – But It was a lot back then.
Things used so well that solar energy was equally designated a new core activity of shell. In The ForeWord to Zon in the Polder , Diederik Samsom Writes That In The Year 2000 – then Still As An Activist at Greenpeace – He came to Shell’s Shareholders’ Meeting to Demand The Construction of Much Larger Solar Factories. But the company thought that was completely unreistic.
A few years later, shell decided to focus fully on oil and gas again; The Solar Division was sold off for a pittance. The Huge Factories That Greenpeace Hoped for Did Come, But in China. The Panels They made Were Dumped on the European Market at Rock-Bottom Prices. It would be possible Lead to An Energy Revolution, but the European Production of Solar Panels Has Almost Completing Disappeared.
European Purchasing is an Empty Intention
It is a pity that Europe is handing about Solar Panel Production to China Once. It would be a real shamm if we now let that happen with all childs of other technologies that are important for the energy transition. “Then you lose something fundamental,” Says emeritus professor Wim Sinke, The Other Wim Who Co-Wrote The Book.
Take the Electrolysers Needed to Produce Green Hydrogen: There are Several European Manufacturers That Make Them, But they Already Have Serious Competition from China, While the Hydrogen Economy has yet to get off the ground.
Althegh the Words ‘ Buy European ‘ Are in Vogue in Brussels, This is Still An Empty Intention. The Companions That Have Received Hundreds of Millions of Euros in Subsidies to Build Hydrogen Factories, For Example, Are Not Obliged to use European Technology, Confirms a Spokesperson for the RVO Implementation Organization.
Gone is Gone
Once Something has disappeared, it is Difficult to get it back. This Became clear again when the national growth fund decided this summer not to make any further investment in the solarnl project, which specifically wanted to bring the production of solar technology back to the Netherlands. Due to the Dominance of China, This is “No Longer Realistic,” An Advisory Committee concluded.
“I can understand that, howver tragic it may be,” Says Sinke. Accordance to him, European Researchers and Companies must look for new, Innovative Forms of Solar Energy That Distinguish Themselves from the Standard Panels that we get from China by the Millions. For example, flexible ‘solar films’ Based on the Material Perovskite.
The good news: Accordination to Sinke, we continuously to seriously underestimate the potential of solar energy. The grumbling about full power grids and feed-in tariffs is, accordance to him, no more than a bump in a continuous revolution. “We have no idea what else is coming our way.”