Energy from sunlight (solar PV) plays a key role in the transition to sustainable energy. Solar PV is growing rapidly worldwide and the capacity in the Netherlands is increasing sharply. The project SolarNL focuses on the development and industrialization of new solar PV technologies and ensures the development of the next generation of fully circular solar panels. In round three of the National Growth Fund, 135 million euros and a conditional 277 million euros will be invested in the SolarNL project.
The next generation of solar panels is fully circular, has very low CO2 emissions, can be integrated into facades or car roofs, for example, and is much more efficient, requiring less space. The project achieves the higher efficiency by processing different layers of solar cells on top of each other in a solar panel. Safety, circularity and affordability are starting points.
The project works together with the entire chain: from the suppliers of the starting materials to the construction and automotive companies that will use integrated solar panels on a large scale. The parties also cooperate with other EU countries. Together they give an impulse to a Dutch and European manufacturing industry for solar panels. In doing so, they contribute to the energy transition and the energy independence of the Netherlands and the EU.
Purpose of the project
The aim of the project is to develop and industrialize three innovative solar PV technologies, each of which will be competitive in their respective markets:
- High-efficiency silicon heterojunction 'HJT' cells;
- Flexible perovskite foils;
- Customized solar PV products for integration in buildings and automotive applications.
What does the National Growth Fund invest in?
The National Growth Fund invests in three solar PV innovation chains that connect research, technology and product development, industrialization and upscaling. A human capital plan is an integral part of the programme. These new technologies give us social benefits and strengthen our energy independence.
The program includes research, technology and product development, industrialization and scale-up. It pays attention to circular design in every technology and product. Each program line comprises an innovation chain that connects different phases: from research to technology and product development, industrialization and upscaling. With each technology and product, the project applies a 'design-for-circularity' principle, which means that it strives for a circular approach.
Budget
The National Growth Fund invests a maximum of € 412 million in the project. Of this amount, €135 million has been awarded definitively and €177 million has been awarded conditionally. In addition, € 100 million has been provided for a possible loan for one of the consortium participants.
Contribution to economic growth and prosperity in the Netherlands
The SolarNL program leads to an expected added value for the Dutch economy of € 500 - € 700 million/year in 2031 and cumulative € 20 - 25 billion in 2050. In addition, the local production of solar PV will yield major social benefits, such as achieving the national climate targets in 2030 and 2050 and strengthening the strategic autonomy of our energy supply.
Globally, solar PV is about to grow to the terawatt scale. This scale refers to a very large amount of electrical power generated by a particular energy source. It is a unit of measurement used to indicate the total power or capacity of power generation systems.
Huge possibilities
In the Netherlands, solar PV generation capacity will grow from 18 GWp in 2022 to 100-250 GWp in 2050. It is an estimate of the enormous size and possibilities of solar energy as an important source of electricity in the energy transition. This proposal ensures that an innovative ecosystem is designed for the local development of new solar energy and its efficient production on a large scale. Local production is expected to yield major social benefits for the cooperation and strengthen the strategic independence of our energy supply.
Who leads the project?
The proposal was submitted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK). SolarNL is carried out by a consortium of nine Dutch solar PV companies, six universities, NWO Institute AMOLF, TNO and four universities of applied sciences.
A program board is appointed from the consortium for the day-to-day management of the project. EZK supports and coordinates SolarNL with a view to the anticipated contribution to the energy transition, the climate objectives and the build-up of sustainable Dutch earning capacity.
