In a notable turn of events, the Dutch government has opted to retract €277 million in conditional funding for the SolarNL initiative, which aimed to advance innovative solar technologies. Initially backed by a substantial €412 million from the National Growth Fund, the project was intended to facilitate the development of next-generation photovoltaic systems, including HJT and tandem perovskite-silicon technologies. Concerns from the NGF advisory committee regarding the project’s viability amid absent conditions for success led to this recent decision.
The SolarNL consortium, comprising nine Dutch solar entities, had previously been awarded funding as part of a larger €898 million public-private financing effort introduced through the government’s IMKE subsidy scheme. However, following the committee’s unfavorable evaluation earlier this year, which highlighted obstacles such as a stalled HJT factory due to challenging market conditions and insufficient private investment, the consortium’s vision for phases II and III seems increasingly flawed. The advisory committee emphasized that the prospect of achieving large-scale production of photovoltaics in the Netherlands is presently unrealistic, with significant advancements in perovskite technology expected to materialize only post-2028.
In light of the government’s decision, the SolarNL board expressed their disappointment while underscoring the urgent need to install 6 GW of solar capacity each year to meet energy transition goals. Moving forward, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy will engage in discussions with stakeholders to evaluate the ramifications of the funding withdrawal. Meanwhile, plans for Phase I continue, with some funds yet to be utilized, and the ministry is contemplating a revised proposal for this initial stage of development.