Solar Incentives in the Netherlands 2026: Net Metering, 0% VAT & SDE++
Last updated July 2026
The Netherlands supports home solar mainly through a 0% VAT rate on panels and net metering (salderingsregeling) — but net metering is being phased out and ends on 1 January 2027, replaced by a supplier feed-in payment (terugleververgoeding). Larger projects use the SDE++ subsidy. Systems are registered via energieleveren.nl. Confirm the current terms before installing.
The Netherlands supports solar energy through a mix of tax relief, feed-in arrangements, and production subsidies rather than a single grant. Residential rooftop solar benefits mainly from a 0% VAT rate on the purchase and installation of panels and from the net-metering scheme (salderingsregeling), while larger commercial and utility-scale renewable projects rely on the SDE++ operating subsidy. National programmes are administered by the Dutch government via the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst), and solar installations must be registered with the grid operator. Note that the net-metering scheme is in transition, so households should confirm the current terms before installing.
Registering your solar system on the grid
Energieleveren.nl (registration with the netbeheerder / grid operator)
Owners of solar (PV) installations that feed electricity back to the grid are required to register their system via energieleveren.nl, the joint national portal operated by the regional grid operators (netbeheerders such as Liander, Enexis and Stedin) coordinated under Netbeheer Nederland. Registration ensures the grid operator and energy supplier record the connection as a producer so that feed-in is metered and settled correctly. Larger-scale projects that apply for the SDE++ production subsidy are handled administratively through RVO.
Salderingsregeling (net metering)
Administered by: Dutch national government (Rijksoverheid); settled in practice by the household's energy supplier
A net-metering mechanism that lets households and small consumers offset the electricity they feed back to the grid against the electricity they draw from it over a settlement period, reducing what they are billed. The scheme is being phased out and replaced by a feed-in compensation (terugleververgoeding) paid by the energy supplier, so its terms and end date should be checked at the official source before relying on it.
Who it is for: Households and small-scale consumers (kleinverbruikers) with a small-consumer connection who feed self-generated solar electricity back to the grid.
Zero VAT on residential solar panels (nultarief btw zonnepanelen)
Administered by: Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration)
A zero VAT rate applies to the supply and installation of solar panels on or near a home, so residential buyers are not charged VAT and generally do not need to reclaim it or take action with the tax authority. It applies to standard (non-integrated) rooftop panels on a dwelling; certain integrated or multi-function products are treated differently, so eligibility details should be verified at the official source.
Who it is for: Owners of residential property (homeowners) purchasing and installing conventional solar panels on or at their home.
SDE++ (Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie en Klimaattransitie)
Administered by: Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO), on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
An operating subsidy that compensates the unprofitable component of large-scale renewable energy production and CO2-reducing techniques, awarded competitively in application rounds and paid out over a multi-year production period. For solar it targets larger installations (e.g. commercial, non-residential and utility-scale) rather than small home systems; budgets, categories and application windows should be checked at the official source.
Who it is for: Companies and non-profit organisations that build and operate qualifying large-scale renewable energy or CO2-reduction projects.
ISDE (Investeringssubsidie duurzame energie en energiebesparing)
Administered by: Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)
An investment subsidy for sustainable-energy and energy-saving measures such as solar water heaters (zonneboilers), heat pumps, insulation and connection to heat networks. Note that it does not cover ordinary residential solar PV panels (those are supported via the 0% VAT rate instead), so it is relevant mainly for solar-thermal and heating measures; covered devices and amounts should be checked at the official source.
Who it is for: Homeowners and business users (including companies, associations and certain property owners) who install eligible equipment from RVO's approved device lists using a professional installer.
Before you rely on any figure — check the official source
Solar incentive rates, tariff levels, budgets, eligibility thresholds and deadlines in the Netherlands change frequently, and several schemes run on limited budgets or fixed application windows. This guide describes each programme at the mechanism level and links to the official administering body so you can confirm the current terms for your own project and year. Never commit to a purchase on the strength of a headline number from a third-party site — including this one.
Once you know which schemes apply, the practical next step is a qualified local installer who can size the system, handle the grid registration and apply for the incentives that fit. Browse solar companies in the Netherlands → on Solar Directory.
Official sources
Every programme fact on this page is drawn from official government and agency sources. Confirm the current terms directly:
- https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/themas/klimaat-milieu-en-natuur/energie-thuis/salderingsregeling
- https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/btw/content/zonnepanelen-nultarief
- https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/sde
- https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/isde
- https://www.energieleveren.nl/
- https://business.gov.nl/subsidy/sustainable-energy-production/
Solar support programmes in the Netherlands at a glance
| Programme | What it does | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Salderingsregeling (net metering) | Net metering — ends 1 January 2027 | Official page → |
| Zero VAT on residential solar panels (nultarief btw zonnepanelen) | 0% VAT on home panels | Official page → |
| SDE++ (Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie en Klimaattransitie) | Operating subsidy for large-scale projects | Official page → |
| ISDE (Investeringssubsidie duurzame energie en energiebesparing) | Investment subsidy — solar thermal/heat, not PV | Official page → |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register my solar system in the Netherlands?
expand_more
Yes. Solar (PV) installations that feed electricity back to the grid must be registered with your grid operator (netbeheerder), which for most owners is done through the national portal energieleveren.nl. This lets the grid operator and your energy supplier record your connection as a producer and settle your feed-in correctly. Larger projects applying for the SDE++ subsidy are handled through RVO.
Is net metering (saldering) ending?
expand_more
Yes. The net-metering scheme (salderingsregeling) that lets small consumers offset the electricity they send to the grid against what they use is being ended: legislation sets 1 January 2027 as the end date, after which energy suppliers pay a feed-in compensation (terugleververgoeding) instead. The exact compensation levels and any transitional arrangements can change, so verify the latest status at the official government source before installing.
Can I combine different solar incentives?
expand_more
Broadly, the incentives address different situations rather than stacking on the same equipment. A homeowner typically benefits automatically from the 0% VAT rate when buying panels and, while it lasts, from net metering for the electricity they feed back; the ISDE covers other measures such as solar water heaters and heat pumps, not ordinary PV panels, while SDE++ targets larger non-residential projects. Because rules on combining subsidies vary and change, confirm the specific conditions with RVO or the official programme page before applying.
Related on Solar Directory
Find solar installers in the Netherlands
Compare verified solar companies in the Netherlands who can size your system, handle the grid registration and apply for the incentives that fit.
Browse the Netherlands solar companies →