Entrepreneurs who invest in sustainable energy will also have the opportunity to apply for a subsidy in 2026 via the SDE++ scheme. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has announced that the round will be reopened, with a budget of approximately eight billion euros. The goal remains the same: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the energy transition.
RVO warns companies that want to submit their application this year to only do so if their project is completely finished. An incomplete application will lead to rejection. For many projects, it is therefore wiser to wait for the 2026 round, which is expected to open in October. In the meantime, entrepreneurs can further develop their plans.
A notable change in the regulation is that for many installations a building permit is no longer required when applying. Exceptions are projects with wind turbines and solar panels on roofs. CO₂ storage may now also take place in other EU countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as long as the technical requirements are met.
For installations smaller than one megawatt, a mandatory feasibility study now also applies. For heat projects involving external customers, a signed declaration from those customers must be added. The government wants to ensure that the generated heat is actually used.
The calculation of the market value for sustainable electricity will be based on quarterly prices instead of hourly rates from October. This can affect the yield of projects such as digesters that generate electricity from biogas. The change should ensure a better coordination between production and demand on the electricity grid.
An important point of attention in the scheme remains the position of green gas. This renewable energy carrier, produced from manure, sludge or organic waste, plays a role in making sectors such as industry and mobility more sustainable. In the new scheme, RVO takes into account the value of the associated Guarantees of Origin when calculating the subsidy. Due to the advice of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, it is likely that this value will also be included in the final correction amount. This change was previously announced in a letter to parliament dated 17 February 2023.
For new sustainable energy projects, there will continue to be requirements for the substantiation of the application. The government wants to be certain that installations are technically feasible and will actually contribute to the climate goals. Feasibility studies and permits will therefore remain essential, especially for larger projects or when external heat consumers are involved.
The government is also investigating whether a maximum CO₂ footprint will be introduced from 2026 for solar panels that fall within the scheme. This fits into a broader development in which sustainability of the entire production chain is becoming more important. Producers of renewable energy will also increasingly have to account for the impact of their technologies.
With this new round, the government underlines the importance of a broad energy mix, in which different technologies together contribute to a climate-neutral future. The relaxation of conditions and the attention for market development give companies room to remain innovative, as long as they prepare their plans carefully.
Source: RVO.nl
