Rapid stacking of solar parks is a cause for concern

The government must apply the solar ladder much more strictly. The solar ladder prevents hastily built solar parks while solar panels can also be placed elsewhere. The food companies Royal Cosun and Avebe are making this appeal to the northern provinces of Groningen and Drenthe, supported by LTO Noord.

The cost-effective processing of starch potatoes and sugar beet is endangered by the rapid growth of solar farms that deplete agricultural land. The multinationals warn that solar parks will be at the expense of employment in rural areas. One hectare of arable crops provides more employment than one hectare of solar park.

Citizen pays the SDE subsidy
A total of €185 million has been reserved for the arrival of 184 solar parks in the 4 northern provinces, the 4 northern provincial broadcasters report. According to joint research by these media, the solar parks are created through tax levies on citizens. They pay the SDE subsidy in the form of higher energy bills, which makes the solar parks a lucrative business for project developers. They can reap the full profit and they are often not put in the way.

Burger co-owner?
By making citizens co-owner of the solar parks, it can be prevented that the sometimes generous profits go 100% to the project developers and do not benefit nature and the production of sustainable energy. This working method is set as an example in the Climate Agreement concluded last year. The Holland Solar industry association has also included this aim in its code of conduct. To date, there is no statutory regulation that prescribes compensation for the arrival of solar parks on arable and grassland.

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.