Thousands of agricultural entrepreneurs are thinking about investing in solar panels in 2022. This is apparent from a trend survey among more than 1.500 farmers. Thousands of other farmers preceded them in recent years. But will it still be interesting to invest in solar panels, even if the netting scheme is soon to be phased out?
You may sometimes wonder why so many entrepreneurs invest in generating sustainable energy. Agricultural entrepreneurs never stand still. Some important spearheads that we hear a lot these days are: (1) becoming less dependent on the vagaries of the market; (2) broaden the revenue model; and (3) making the company more sustainable.
Because solar panels last a long time, require little maintenance and generate a lot of power, the efficiency of a solar panel installation is very interesting for agricultural entrepreneurs. It creates a stable additional source of income and drastically reduces energy costs. Add together the income and savings from 25 to 30 years, and you soon have large amounts.
Phasing out netting scheme vs. payback period
An increasingly common question is: will the phasing out of the netting scheme — which will probably start a year later, in 2024 — throw a spanner in the works? Is investing in solar panels still interesting? What does that do to my payback time?
Are these concerns justified?
“The simple answer is: No.” This is what Theo Hartgers, solar panel specialist and financial director at Energy Shift, says: "The phasing out of the netting scheme extends the payback period on average by six months to one year." So that effect is very small.
And that makes sense. The netting arrangement is being phased out precisely because the investment has become so financially attractive. The government has also realized that an extra financial advantage is no longer necessary.
Calculation examples
Below we give you a few examples of farmers with a small consumer connection (< 3 x 80 Ampere):
| Used up | 75.000 kWh per year |
| Invests in | 195 solar panels |
| wakes up | 75.220 kWh per year |
| % own use | He can use 40% of what he generates immediately |
| % netting | 60% of the electricity it generates goes into the grid and buys it back later |
| Payback period | |
| Netting without dismantling | 5,2 years |
| Netting with phasing out from 2023 | 5,7 years |
| Netting with phasing out from 2024 | 5,5 years |
| Used up | 45.000 kWh per year |
| Invests in | 131 solar panels |
| wakes up | 44.010 kWh per year |
| % own use | He can use 30% of what he generates immediately |
| % netting | 70% of the electricity it generates goes into the grid and buys it back later |
| Payback period | |
| Netting without dismantling | 5,5 years |
| Netting with phasing out from 2023 | 6,1 years |
| Netting with phasing out from 2024 | 5,9 years Click here to see more calculation examples. |
personal advice
As the calculation examples show, in practice the phasing out scheme is at most at the expense of one year extra payback time. And the more generated energy an entrepreneur uses himself, the less effect the phase-out has on the payback period. But every situation is different. Entrepreneurs looking for personal advice can contact Energy Shift, a solar specialist for large solar panel installations, with many references from farmers throughout the Netherlands. Please inquire without obligation quote you will receive personal advice for your situation from an adviser.