December solar power decline hits record low in the Netherlands
This December marks a historic low for solar energy generation in the Netherlands, with a significant drop in solar power output caused by persistent gloomy weather conditions, AD reports. For many homeowners with solar panels, this month is set to be the worst in terms of energy production.
Typically, December sees the lowest solar power generation of the year, but this month’s conditions have been particularly harsh. "This is by far the worst month for solar production in recent memory," said Ton Voermans, an energy expert. On some days, residents have barely seen the sun, with overcast skies and rain dominating much of the month. On Tuesday and Wednesday, only those flying above Schiphol airport saw any sun, as the clouds blocked nearly all sunlight.
Exact numbers on solar output are difficult to measure, particularly because much of the energy produced by home solar panels is consumed directly by the household, rather than being fed back into the grid. According to data from Energieopwek.nl, 478 megawatt-hours of solar power were generated in the Netherlands this December. This is slightly lower than last year’s 510 megawatt-hours and the 513 megawatt-hours produced in December 2022. While the difference seems minor, it is significant when considering the substantial increase in the number of solar panels installed over the past two years.
In 2023, solar power capacity in the Netherlands grew by 22 percent. Even this year, despite a slowdown in solar panel sales, more than 300,000 new installations were added. As a result, the solar energy output in December 2024 has been noticeably disappointing.
The overall efficiency of solar panels has also declined compared to last year. However, this cannot be fully attributed to the technology itself, as the sheer increase in the number of installed panels complicates such a comparison. The Dutch Statistics Bureau (CBS) reported that in 2023, solar panels in the Netherlands produced nearly 20,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity—almost equivalent to the total electricity consumption of all households in the country, or about 17 percent of the nation’s total electricity production. This marks a significant increase from 2021, when solar panels generated just 11,300 gigawatt-hours.
Despite the negative sentiment surrounding solar power due to changes in government policies—such as the removal of the net metering scheme and the additional costs imposed by energy companies for electricity return—purchasing solar panels remains financially viable. Even in recent months, there has been modest growth in the number of new installations.
The challenges are compounded for homeowners who rely on home battery storage systems. These batteries are marketed as solutions to store excess solar power for later use, but during the dark days of December, the likelihood that these batteries are even fully charged is minimal. Many households with solar panels may find that their batteries are insufficiently filled to meet their energy needs.
