Is solar worth it in the Netherlands after 2027?

Yes, but with different economics. Self-consumption (saving €0.30/kWh retail) remains valuable. Size your system for self-consumption, add a home battery, and accept that export earns far less after 2027. Payback of 8–12 years is achievable post-saldering with a battery.

What is the redelijke vergoeding in the Netherlands?

The redelijke vergoeding (reasonable compensation) is what Dutch suppliers must pay for exported solar from 2027 onward. Regulated by ACM, it reflects wholesale prices (~€0.05–0.10/kWh) rather than retail. This is 67–83% lower than the current saldering rate of ~€0.30/kWh.

🇳🇱 Solar Calculator Netherlands

Enter your monthly electricity bill and city — get solar system size, saldering vs post-2027 redelijke vergoeding comparison, 0% BTW savings, and payback period.

Your electricity details

Monthly electricity bill?

€EUR

City?

System size?

Installation year?

Add battery storage?

Solar system results — Netherlands

5 kWp system — 876 kWh/kWp/yr

Monthly kWh usage400 kWh/mo

Annual solar production4.380 kWh/yr

Self-consumption savings€460/yr

Export income (saldering @ €0.30/kWh)€854/yr

Total annual benefit€1.314/yr

System cost (0% BTW)€5.000 – €7.000

Total installed cost€6.000

Payback period4.6 years

25-year net savings€26.850

Saldering deadline: The Dutch saldering (net metering) scheme ends 1 January 2027. Systems installed before this date benefit from full retail-rate export credit. After 2027, exported solar earns only the "redelijke vergoeding" (~€0.05–0.10/kWh). Install before the cliff to lock in better economics.

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly bill and city

Enter your average monthly electricity bill in Euro from your Dutch supplier (Vattenfall, Eneco, Essent, Nuon, or others). The calculator uses a blended retail rate of €0.30/kWh. Select your city — Eindhoven (3.1 PSH) gets the most sun in the Netherlands; Groningen (2.8 PSH) the least. Dutch solar is viable despite lower irradiance because high electricity prices drive strong economics.

Set installation year — the 2027 cliff

This is the most important input for Dutch solar. The saldering (net metering) scheme — where exported solar earns the full retail rate of €0.30/kWh — ends on 1 January 2027. Systems installed from 2027 onward receive only the "redelijke vergoeding" (reasonable compensation) of approximately €0.05–0.10/kWh. That is a 75% reduction in export value. Systems installed before the deadline retain saldering rights typically for 15 years, so act before 1 January 2027 to secure the better economics.

Battery storage post-2027

After the saldering phase-out, a home battery becomes far more important. It shifts more solar energy to self-consumption (the most valuable use at €0.30/kWh retail) rather than exporting at the reduced redelijke vergoeding rate. The 0% BTW (VAT) on residential solar has applied since January 2023 and applies to both panels and batteries.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ €0.30/kWh (blended retail rate) Annual production = kWp × PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency Self-consumption savings = Self-consumed kWh × €0.30/kWh retail Pre-2027 export income = Exported kWh × €0.30/kWh (saldering — full retail) Post-2027 export income = Exported kWh × €0.07/kWh (redelijke vergoeding) BTW (VAT) = 0% on residential solar panels, inverters, batteries (since Jan 2023) Payback = Total cost ÷ Annual benefit

The Netherlands eliminated BTW on residential solar installations in January 2023, reducing system costs by 21%. Dutch solar installations must comply with the Energiewet and be reported to Energienet via your grid operator (netbeheerder). Systems over 15kWp require a separate connection. The saldering phase-out was legislated in 2023; the transition period runs until 2027 for new installations. Post-2027 the redelijke vergoeding rate is set by ACM (Autoriteit Consument & Markt) and reviewed annually.

Example

Jan — Amsterdam terraced house, 5kWp, pre-2027

Jan pays €120/month in Amsterdam and installs a 5kWp system in 2026 to benefit from saldering before the cliff.

Monthly bill€120

City / PSHAmsterdam, 3.0 PSH

System size5 kWp

Installation2026 (pre-saldering cliff)

BatteryNo

Result

Annual production~4,380 kWh/yr

Production per kWp~876 kWh/kWp/yr

Self-consumption savings~€409/yr

Export income (saldering)~€760/yr

Total annual benefit~€1,169/yr

System cost (0% BTW)~€5,000–7,000

Payback~5.1 years

25-year net savings~€23,225

If Jan waited until 2027 (post-saldering), his export income would drop from ~€760/yr to ~€177/yr — a loss of ~€583/yr and payback extending from 5.1 to 9.0 years. The 2027 cliff is real and significant.

FAQ

When does Dutch saldering (net metering) end? ▼

The Dutch saldering scheme ends on 1 January 2027. Systems installed before that date retain saldering rights for approximately 15 years (subject to the final legislation). After 2027, new installations will only receive the "redelijke vergoeding" (reasonable compensation) set by ACM — currently estimated at €0.05–0.10/kWh, versus the retail rate of ~€0.30/kWh under saldering. This is a 67–83% reduction in export compensation. The message is clear: install before the cliff.

Is solar worth it in the Netherlands post-2027? ▼

Yes, but with different economics. Post-2027, solar remains worthwhile in the Netherlands because the self-consumed portion (saving €0.30/kWh retail) is still very valuable. A well-sized system with a home battery — maximizing self-consumption — can achieve 8–12 year paybacks. The key shift is: don't oversize your system to maximize export. Instead, size to cover your own consumption, add a battery, and accept that exporting is low-value after 2027.

Is there VAT (BTW) on solar panels in the Netherlands? ▼

Since 1 January 2023, there is 0% BTW (VAT) on the supply and installation of solar panels on or near residential homes in the Netherlands. This applies to solar panels, inverters, cables, and installation labor. Previously, the BTW was 21%, which added significantly to costs. The 0% rate does not apply to commercial installations — only residential. Battery storage for residential use also qualifies for 0% BTW if installed as part of a solar system.

Which Dutch city gets the most sun for solar? ▼

Eindhoven (3.1 PSH) and Amsterdam / The Hague / Utrecht (3.0 PSH) receive the most solar radiation in the Netherlands. Rotterdam (2.9 PSH) is slightly less due to Atlantic influence. Groningen (2.8 PSH) in the north receives the least. Overall Dutch solar irradiance is lower than southern Europe but the high electricity prices compensate — making Netherlands one of Europe's better solar markets by payback economics rather than sun hours.

What is the redelijke vergoeding? ▼

The "redelijke vergoeding" (reasonable compensation) is the payment Dutch energy suppliers must offer for solar electricity exported to the grid from 2027 onward. The rate is regulated by ACM (Autoriteit Consument & Markt) and reflects the wholesale energy market value rather than retail price. Current estimates put this at €0.05–0.10/kWh — compared to the retail rate of ~€0.30/kWh under the current saldering scheme. Suppliers set their own rates within ACM guidelines, so it will be worth comparing offers from different energy companies from 2027.

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