Nowhere in Europe are there so many solar panels on homes as in the Netherlands. But the attractive net metering scheme will be phased out in the coming years. Is it still useful to buy solar panels without this scheme? Energy experts give their opinion.
In the often obscure energy sector, the net metering scheme has excelled in simplicity for years. “The scheme is super simple: the electricity you supply back to your energy company with your solar panels can be offset on an annual basis against the electricity you purchase again, for example if the sun is not shining,” says director Ben Woldring of comparison site Gaslicht.com. Those who supply more electricity than they consume will also receive compensation from the energy provider.
Full pound
Being allowed to offset electricity generated in the summer against electricity purchased in the winter makes it attractive to purchase solar panels. But if the Senate approves it later, the net metering arrangement will come to an end. The politicians want to phase out the scheme from 2025. In 2031, netting will no longer be possible. Households then have to pay full price for electricity they purchase from their energy company, while they receive a lower compensation for the electricity fed back from their panels.
But even in that situation, it remains interesting to install solar panels on your roof, says Woldring. “Traditionally, the payback period for solar panels is seven to eight years. Due to the high electricity prices, the payback period has now fallen to four to five years. However, due to the phasing out of the net metering scheme, the payback period is expected to move back towards seven to eight years. Then it is still a good investment, because most solar panels last at least 25 years.”
Electric car
The director of Gaslicht.com does recommend that the choice for the number of solar panels is geared to your current and expected future energy consumption. “For example, if you expect to purchase an electric car in two years’ time, it is better to have extra panels installed now. Expanding an existing installation is more expensive than installing it all at once.”
According to Milieu Centraal, it remains financially interesting to buy solar panels, even if the benefit is getting smaller. Anyone who purchases panels now can still benefit fully from the net metering scheme for over a year and a half and then gradually less until 2031. “So it is better to get solar panels the sooner,” says Mariken Stolk of Milieu Centraal.
Own power
According to Stolk, it will soon become more attractive for owners of solar panels to use their own generated electricity. “Then only turn on your washing machine or dishwasher when your solar panels generate electricity. Because you don’t have to buy electricity that you generate and use yourself.”
Woldring expects more homeowners to buy a home battery. The limited storage capacity of such a battery is a disadvantage. “It is not yet possible to store electricity generated in the summer on a home battery and use it in the winter.”
Sustainability also pays off
Homeowners who have no plans to move can consider making their home more sustainable. “Energy prices are currently a lot lower than much of last year, but still a lot higher than in recent years,” says Oscar Noorlag of Van Bruggen Adviesgroep.
There is a good chance that energy prices will remain on the high side in the medium term. In addition, a home with a better energy label would have a chance at a higher sales price.
Efficiency
“If you have savings, an investment in sustainability will yield a much higher return in the long term than the interest on a savings account,” says consultant Noorlag. “Your return consists of the savings on your energy bill. The amount depends on the type of home and the sustainability measures you are going to take, but also on the energy price development.” The energy ceiling will still apply this year, but Minister Kaag (Finance) has already said that it will end from December 31 this year, except perhaps for a limited group of low-income households.
The investment not only leads to a lower energy bill, but also to a higher value and a more salable home, according to Noorlag. Brainbay, a real estate data manager, calculated last year that a house with a C label yields an average price of 7.9% higher than a comparable house with a G label. Noorlag: “More and more home buyers find the energy label important.”
Second mortgage
If you have insufficient savings, you can take out a second mortgage if you have sufficient income to finance solar panels or a heat pump. Noorlag calculates it for you. With a mortgage of € 25,000, this costs € 119 gross per month for an annuity mortgage with a term of thirty years. Net that is about € 89 extra per month in the first year. “But keep in mind that the net monthly payment increases every year. If your expected monthly savings on your energy bill are greater, you can also consider opting for a shorter mortgage term.”