Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy Policy Rob Jetten informed in a parliamentary letter to the House of Representatives on the progress of the Regional Energy Strategies (RESs) that he will remove the 35 TWh ceiling for renewable electricity in the Stimulation of Sustainable Energy Production and Climate Transition (SDE++) scheme in 2023.
In the 2019 Climate Agreement (Klimaatakkoord) it was agreed to achieve at least 35 TWh of large-scale onshore electricity generation by 2030 within the Regional Energy Strategies (RESs). The SDE++ would support this up to that same 35 TWh.
In light of the need to accelerate the energy transition, that ceiling would no longer be appropriate towards the future. CDA MP Henri Bontebal subsequently submitted a motion requesting that in subsequent SDE++ rounds or other forms of stimulation, a maximum eligible energy production of 35 TWh in 2030 for solar and wind should no longer be assumed. This was adopted by the Lower House on 6 April this year. Minister Jetten is now implementing this.
Considering alternative support schemes for the future
In his letter, Minister Jetten also indicates that he wants to replace the SDE++ scheme with more appropriate support in the future. He indicates that this scheme in its current form ‘does not always take proper account of important preconditions for projects, such as landscape incorporation’.
To this end, Jetten wants an independent research agency to investigate whether support for solar and wind projects can be more targeted than in the current SDE++. By summer, he will inform the House about the developments of the study. The new form of support will take effect after the SDE++ round of 2023 at the earliest, aiming not to leave a gap between the end of the SDE++ and the start of the new support, Minister Jetten said in his letter.
Read the full parliamentary letter on the central government website (in Dutch).
