Solar panels and home batteries in the Netherlands after net metering ends in 2027
What changes on 1 January 2027, and how to keep your solar power worth something
The short answer
The Dutch net metering scheme (salderingsregeling) ends on 1 January 2027. Until then, every kWh your panels feed into the grid cancels out a kWh you use. After that, you pay full price for grid power and get a lower feed-in compensation, at least 50 percent of the bare supply price until 2030.
Solar panels still pay off, but the value moves to the power you use yourself. That makes your energy contract, your timing and possibly a home battery matter much more. Our guide to Dutch energy prices shows what grid power costs, and the dynamic contracts guide explains the contract type built for solar homes.
Bottom line: before January, check your supplier's 2027 feed-in compensation and feed-in costs. If they are poor, switching contract is the quickest win, ahead of buying a battery.
Table of contents
What changes for solar panel owners on 1 January 2027?
From 1 January 2027 your supplier bills the power you take from the grid and pays you separately for the power you feed in. The two are no longer netted out against each other. The government set two rules to protect solar panel owners during the transition.
| Until 31 December 2026 | From 1 January 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power you feed in | Offset one-to-one against power you use | Paid at the feed-in compensation |
| Minimum compensation | Not relevant for the offset part | At least 50% of the bare supply price, until 2030 |
| Feed-in costs (terugleverkosten) | Set freely by suppliers | Only the supplier's actual costs of processing your power |
| Energy tax on power you use from the grid | Effectively only on your net usage | On every kWh you take from the grid |
Why the energy tax line matters most
The bare supply price is only part of what you pay per kWh. Energy tax and VAT come on top. Under net metering, solar power you fed in also cancelled that tax. From 2027 it does not, which is why using your own solar power directly is worth much more than feeding it in.
Are solar panels still worth it in the Netherlands?
For most owner-occupied homes with a suitable roof, yes, but the payback period gets longer than under net metering. How much longer depends on how much of your own solar power you use directly. A household that is home during the day, runs a heat pump or charges an electric car keeps more of the value.
What the government offers
- 0 percent VAT on solar panels on or at a home, including the installation and the parts needed to run them, such as the inverter. This has applied since 2023.
- The Energiebespaarlening from the Warmtefonds, a loan for energy-saving measures that can finance solar panels.
- No national purchase subsidy. Some municipalities run their own schemes, so check your gemeente's website.
Buying a home with panels already on the roof? Ask the seller for the yearly yield and the installation date, and factor the 2027 change into what the panels are worth. Our guide to buying a house covers the rest of the purchase.
Choosing an energy contract when you have solar panels
From 2027 the cheapest contract for a solar home is not necessarily the one with the lowest per-kWh price. Compare three numbers side by side.
- The price you pay per kWh for the power you still take from the grid, mostly in the evening and in winter.
- The feed-in compensation you receive per kWh you put back. Many suppliers pay more than the legal minimum.
- The feed-in costs, a fixed amount or a charge per kWh fed in. Some suppliers charge none.
A dynamic contract pays feed-in at the market price of the moment and charges market prices for usage. That rewards households that can move usage to sunny hours, or store power. It can also mean almost nothing for feed-in on sunny afternoons when prices fall below zero. Our dynamic energy contracts guide compares the suppliers built for this, and the energy providers comparison covers fixed contracts.
Changed terms on 1 January? You may be able to leave
Suppliers are rewriting their solar terms for 2027. Read the letter or email your supplier sends about it carefully. If the new terms are worse and you are on a fixed contract, ask the supplier whether you can end the contract without a cancellation fee before you accept them.
Home batteries: when do they make sense?
A home battery (thuisbatterij) stores your midday solar surplus so you can use it in the evening instead of buying grid power. On a dynamic contract it can also charge when power is cheap and discharge when it is expensive. Some suppliers can steer the battery for you based on market prices.
Plug-in batteries
Smaller units that connect to a wall socket or to a few panels. Cheaper and easy to take with you when you move, which suits people who may not stay long. They store less, so they cover part of the evening rather than all of it.
Installed home batteries
Larger systems installed in the meter cupboard or garage, connected to your solar inverter. They store more and can be steered by your energy supplier, but cost much more and stay with the house.
- VAT is 21 percent on home batteries. The 0 percent solar rate does not apply to them.
- Ask for a calculation on your own data. Your supplier's app shows how much you feed in and when. A battery only earns money on surplus you actually have.
- Check compatibility with your inverter and with your supplier's steering, if you want the battery to trade on a dynamic contract.
Renters and apartment owners
Most expats rent, and roof panels on a rented home need the landlord's permission. In an apartment building the owners' association (VvE) decides about the shared roof. You can ask your landlord whether panels are planned. A better energy label also counts towards the home's rent points, which our Huurcommissie guide explains.
Without a roof of your own, an energy cooperative (energiecoöperatie) lets you invest in a shared solar or wind project. These cooperatives receive government support through the SCE scheme. A plug-in battery with a small set of panels is the other route, provided your landlord or VvE allows it.
Frequently asked questions
When does net metering end in the Netherlands?
On 1 January 2027. From that date you can no longer offset the solar power you feed into the grid against the power you take from it. You pay for every kWh you use from the grid and receive a feed-in compensation (terugleververgoeding) for every kWh you put back.
How much will my supplier pay for the solar power I feed in?
Until 2030 the compensation must be at least 50 percent of the bare supply price of electricity, the price before energy tax and VAT. Many suppliers pay more than that minimum to attract solar customers. On a dynamic contract the compensation follows the market price of the moment.
Can suppliers still charge feed-in costs (terugleverkosten) after 2027?
Only to cover the costs the supplier actually makes to process the power you feed in, according to the government. Feed-in costs differ a lot between suppliers, so compare them alongside the feed-in compensation when you choose a contract.
Is there a subsidy for solar panels in the Netherlands?
No national subsidy. The support is the 0 percent VAT rate on solar panels for homes, in place since 2023, and the energy-saving loan (Energiebespaarlening) from the Warmtefonds. Energy cooperatives can get support through the SCE scheme, which also lets people without a suitable roof take part.
Do home batteries have 0 percent VAT too?
No. The 0 percent rate covers solar panels and what is needed to install and run them, such as the inverter. A home battery (thuisbatterij) is charged at the normal 21 percent VAT.
Is a home battery worth it after 2027?
It becomes more interesting, because power you store and use yourself is worth the full price you would otherwise pay, while power you feed in earns much less. Whether it pays back depends on the battery price, how much solar surplus you have, and whether you combine it with a dynamic contract. Ask for a calculation based on your own usage before buying.
I rent my home. Can I still use solar power?
Roof panels need your landlord's permission, and in an apartment building the owners' association (VvE) decides. You can ask your landlord whether they plan to install panels. Joining an energy cooperative lets you invest in a shared solar project elsewhere.
Official sources
- • Rijksoverheid on the end of net metering: the 50% minimum and feed-in costs
- • Rijksoverheid on solar panel support: 0% VAT, the Warmtefonds loan and the SCE scheme
- • Belastingdienst on home batteries and VAT: why batteries stay at 21%