In 2018 the percentage of renewable energy that was produced by local energy cooperatives grew significantly. In total, 74,5 MWp of collective solar power and 59 MW of collective wind power was installed. This number is expected to double in the short term. This is the conclusion of the ‘Lokale Energie Monitor 2018’ report by HIER opgewekt.
The large part of those 484 cooperatives are found in the provinces of Noord Holland (77) and Gelderland (66). The newcomers are mainly located in the provinces of Noord-Holland (15), Zuid-Holland (12) and Groningen (11).
Wind
2018 saw a 40% growth in collective wind power. At the end of 2018 a total of 59 MW of cooperative wind power will be operational. This growth took mainly place in the province of Zeeland where the wind farms Krammer and Bouwdokken were built. At least 25 more wind farm projects with a total power of 150 MW are lined up.
Solar
2018 saw a 50% growth in cooperative solar power. With 173 new projects, together good for 37,4 MWp, added this year, there are currently 450 solar projects with a collective power of 74,5 MWp. In 2019 another 40 new projects with a combined power of 68 MWp are expected to be added and at least 130 more projects in preparation. Most of these projects will be built in the provinces of Noord-Holland, Noord-Brabant, Friesland and Gelderland.
The numbers show the interest from the public for participating in, and benefiting from, the energy transition. In total, 70,000 Dutch citizens are members of a cooperative. The ambition, as part of the energy agreement, is to have 50% of all new solar and wind energy production owned by local regions where they are built.
