Nearly 200.000 new PV prosumers in the Netherlands

The number of prosumers – people who produce solar power and consume at least some of it locally – has increased in the Netherlands by nearly 200.000 in 2019. This has been reported by Utrecht University, the national partner of the EU-sponsored research project PVP4GRID, which since 2017 has been analyzing these new energy concepts in eight European countries, and which is now coming to an end.

The on-site consumption of solar power, whether by an individual, family, commercial enterprise or energy cooperative, in a privately-owned house or in a rented apartment, is an important trend for shaping the future of the energy system. “Every locally used kilowatthour prevents the production, transport and associated losses of centrally produced and often still fossil-based electricity. Decentralised generation and decentralised consumption are achievable in many different constellations. These models ensure that the energy costs of all participants will decrease, thereby making an important contribution to reaching CO₂ emission reduction targets,” says Prof. Wilfried van Sark, Professor Photovoltaics Integration at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development.

Particularly high so-called self-consumption rates can be achieved by adding a solar energy storage unit and a charging station for electric vehicles. “PVP4Grid shows how prosuming already works in different European countries, what barriers still exist and how they can be overcome,” according to Van Sark.

Self-supply with solar energy changes prosumers’ energy requirements and the load profiles in the local electricity networks. By adopting grid-assistive behavior, prosumers can contribute to the stabilization of the electricity networks through flexible balancing of consumption and generation, and smoothing the midday peaks in solar power generation. While at prosumers’ grid connection points valuable data can be obtained via smart meters, opportunities, incentives and new regulation have to be created to allow data to be used in support of system flexibility and stability.

The research institutions and associations involved in this project have drawn up handbooks and guidance documents in seven languages, which are tailored to the needs of their respective countries. In addition, recommendations for the improved integration of prosumer models have also been developed and the socio-economic effects and possible reductions in CO₂ emissions examined. In the Netherlands, Utrecht University published a national guideline for prosumers describing the future role of prosumers in network operations and a position paper on prosumers as a driver of the energy transition.

All publications are available free of charge under the tab Information for Prosumers.

Animated videos explain how prosumers can become more independent using decentralized solar power generation and supply, and how they can achieve long-term savings in energy costs.

About PVP4GRID

PV-Prosumers4Grid (PVP4Grid) is an EU-funded project involving 12 partners from various European countries. The main objective of PVP4GRID is to increase the market share and market value of photovoltaics (PV) by enabling consumers to become PV prosumers in a system-friendly manner.

PVP4GRID aims at a better integration of PV into the energy system with a focus on market integration. New management and business models to combine PV, storage, flexible demand and other technologies into a commercially viable product are assessed, improved, implemented and evaluated.

Contact

Project coordinator: BSW – Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft e. V.
Lietzenburger Strasse 53
10719 Berlin
Email: info@pvp4grid.eu