Solar panel subsidies in the Netherlands (2026)

The biggest saving on solar panels in 2026 isn't a one-off grant: since 2023 you pay 0% VAT on the purchase and installation of panels on a home, and net metering (saldering) still runs at 100% through 2026. On top of that, some municipalities and provinces offer extra subsidies or low-interest loans. Below we walk through every option and explain what changes when net metering ends on 1 January 2027.

Subsidy and financing options for solar panels

The Dutch government treats solar panels as an important contribution to sustainable energy and has set up several financial incentives to encourage households to install them. Here are the key options in 2026:

1. 0% VAT (instead of a VAT refund): Since 1 January 2023 you no longer pay VAT on solar panels installed on or near a home, so there's nothing left to reclaim — the price you're quoted is already net of VAT. (Older guides still mention a 21% VAT refund; that route is no longer needed.)
2. Net metering (saldering): Not a traditional subsidy, but the single biggest financial benefit. Electricity you feed back to the grid is offset 1-for-1 against the electricity you draw from it. This scheme runs at 100% through 2026 and ends on 1 January 2027 — see the section below.
3. Investeringssubsidie Duurzame Energie (ISDE): Best known for heat pumps and solar water heaters. Standard rooftop solar panels are generally not covered by ISDE for private homeowners, so don't count on it for panels alone — but it's worth claiming if you're combining panels with a heat pump.
4. Local and provincial subsidies: Some municipalities and provinces offer additional subsidies or low-interest sustainability loans (duurzaamheidslening) for renewable energy projects, including solar panels. These depend on your location and the available budget, so check your own municipality.
5. Energiebespaarlening: A national low-interest loan via the Nationaal Warmtefonds that lets you spread the investment over time instead of paying upfront. If you're buying or refinancing a home, you can often fold the panels into a sustainable mortgage instead.

Qualifications for subsidies

Subsidies for solar panels can vary depending on the country, region, and specific program. In the Netherlands, there are specific qualification guidelines:

Private households

• Private homeowners are often eligible for subsidies for solar panels
• This applies to people who own their homes and want to equip them with sustainable energy systems

Business users

• Companies, institutions, and other business users may also be eligible for subsidies for solar panels
• This can range from small businesses to large commercial enterprises

Criteria and conditions

The details of the subsidy and conditions can vary depending on factors such as:

• The size of the solar panel system
• The efficiency of the panels
• The specific type of solar technology used
• Only specific types of solar panels, inverters, or other technologies may be eligible
• Some subsidies may target specific project types like construction projects

Income limits

• Some subsidies may have income limits to ensure financial support reaches those who need it most
• Grant schemes may offer more support to low-income households to help cover the cost of renewable energy solutions

Residence or location

• The availability of subsidy can depend on region or municipality
• Some regions may have specific incentives to promote renewable energy

What changes when net metering ends in 2027

This is the most important thing to understand before you buy. The Dutch parliament has passed the law to end net metering (de Wet beëindiging salderingsregeling), and the scheme stops on 1 January 2027.

• Through 2026: net metering still applies at 100%. Every kWh you feed back to the grid is offset against a kWh you use, at the same rate.
• From 1 January 2027: you can no longer offset your feed-in against your usage. Instead, your energy supplier pays you a feed-in payment (terugleververgoeding) for surplus electricity. By law this payment must be at least 50% of the supplier's basic delivery rate until 2030, and suppliers are not allowed to charge you negative feed-in costs for delivering power back.

In practice that means electricity you use yourself the moment you generate it (self-consumption) keeps its full value, while surplus you export becomes worth less than it is today. The more of your own solar power you use directly — or store in a home battery — the better your return after 2027.

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