Subsidy for land under solar park expires

The subsidies on the ground under solar parks will expire. This is what Minister Eric Wiebes (Economic Affairs and Climate) writes in an answer to parliamentary questions. Furthermore, the minister wants to leave the energy transition mainly to the market parties.

So far, €2.500 subsidy per hectare has been provided for the land under the solar panels. From the autumn, however, Wiebes will ensure that this subsidy will expire. Otherwise, more or less subsidy would be provided for the buy up land.

The reason for the choice of Minister Wiebes is the commotion surrounding PowerField (a developer of solar parks) due to reports in the NRC. PowerField would buy land for solar parks and then sell this land more expensively. In the meantime has been announced that PowerField will stop doing this.

Scarce land
A tricky point, however, is that land is scarce and that the price of land is high. Unfair competition would arise if the developers of solar parks get a better competitive position compared to farmers as a result of the subsidies. The land allowance for onshore wind energy will also be reduced annually. 

It has already been decided that an Interdepartmental Policy Study (IBO) will be set up to gain more insight into land payments for renewable energy. According to Wiebes, the energy transition should mainly be left to private parties. They can ensure that the costs of the energy transition are kept as low as possible.

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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