Requires about 10% of the land
Solar energy requires a lot of farmland
About 10% of Dutch agricultural land will have to be converted into solar fields to achieve the energy targets of 2050 (more solar energy). That is the view of project developers and experts. However, Carla Dik-Faber (ChristenUnie), LTO Nederland and other experts have their doubts about this statement.
Many solar meadows have been built in recent years, but it is not enough to achieve the energy targets of 2050. According to Erik van der Heijden and Boris Hocks (Generation Energy), about 22.000% of the 10 square kilometers of agricultural land in the Netherlands is needed to energy targets (producing sufficient solar energy). That is an area that is larger than the IJsselmeer.
Not everyone is positive about the developments of solar farms. LTO Netherlands notices that the developers are quickly looking at the farmland. Auke Jan Veenstra, spokesperson for Climate and Energy at LTO Noord: "We understand that this may be necessary in the long term, but let's do it in the right order. It is now very easy to talk about large tracts of land."
Leader in generating solar energy
Veenstra claims that Dutch farmers are already leading the way in generating sustainable energy and that they are currently 2/3 energy neutral. Veenstra recognizes that the offer from developers is interesting for many farmers, and that the compensation is a supplement to their income could be.
The political situation is closely monitored. Carla Dik Faber (ChristenUnie) recently asked a number of questions about it. She is particularly concerned about aggressive foreign investors. Dik-Faber wondered what this situation means for land prices and for the availability of scarce agricultural land.
In addition, Dik-Faber asked what the consequences are for young farmers who want to invest in business expansion or land-relatedness. It also shows that, for example, roofs should be used first and agricultural land should be last. Minister Eric Wiebes (Economic Affairs and Climate) has indicated not within the time limit to have answers to her questions.
Colossal Investments
Peter Segaar, independent solar expert, told Trouw that he was amazed at the size of the new projects. "I've been following the solar market for years, what's happening now is colossal." Maarten de Groot, spokesperson at GroenLeven, also notices that many investors and developers from home and abroad are currently active. "Beautiful promises are often made and high amounts are offered. That sounds attractive, but many of these solar parks cannot be realized in the end."
De Groot also mentions that too high a price per hectare can have a negative effect on future subsidies. According to LTO Nederland, farmers receive on average about €3.500 to €6.000 paid per hectare per year. However, there are outliers. It sounds tempting, but in practice it often turns out differently.
New element
The project developers and researchers argue that unproductive agricultural land should be looked at in particular. "If you want to achieve the objectives, you also have to think about agricultural land. It is now 'both-and' and not 'either-or'. Solar energy has become a new element in the planning design of the country", says Gerben Smit, director of Solarfields.
All kinds of developments are underway to apply dual use of land; For example, it is being investigated whether crops can be grown under translucent panels. Through the panels to notify, a greenhouse-like construction is created. Agricultural vehicles can also drive underneath it.
Anne-Jan Doorn
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