Installers of solar panels fear bankruptcy, demand action from Minister Jetten
Installers of solar panels are calling on demissionary Minister Jetten (D66) for Climate and Energy to make more efforts to tell “the honest story” about solar panels. The installation of the panels is still profitable, according to the industry association, despite the planned abolition of the net metering scheme.
Through information campaigns, the industry association Techniek Nederland, along with the ministry and energy companies, want to tackle the dramatic decrease in installation orders. The number of orders granted to install panels is said to have decreased by 95% in the past ten months.
**Keywords: installers, solar panels, Minister Jetten, industry association, net metering scheme**
Techniek Nederland largely attributes this decline to “the yo-yo policy of the government”. This mainly concerns the net metering scheme, which allows owners of solar panels to offset the electricity they consume when the sun is not shining against the electricity they generate on sunny days.
The scheme gave solar panel owners an advantage over people who cannot afford the panels or do not have a suitable roof, as deemed by the Second Chamber. They approved Minister Jetten’s proposal to phase out the scheme. However, the First Chamber put an end to Jetten and the Second Chamber’s desire: the net metering scheme would still remain.
In the agreement between the forming parties, it is stated that the net metering scheme will still be abolished without a transitional arrangement. This “inconsistent government policy” leads, according to installers, to many consumers losing trust in solar panels.
**Keywords: government policy, transition arrangement, installers, consumers, solar panels**
Recognized installation companies are especially affected by the decrease in the number of orders, says Techniek Nederland. “These companies have invested a lot in quality, safety, and training of personnel,” as stated in a letter to Jetten.
If the downward trend in order issuance is not reversed, the industry organization fears “many business closures and bankruptcies among recognized installers.”
“Investing in solar panels is still profitable even without the net metering scheme,” writes Techniek Nederland to Jetten. “We must continue to tell that story together. Not only because it is good for the survival of our companies, but it is also necessary to achieve sustainability goals.”
**Keywords: sustainability goals, bankruptcies, investment, installation companies**