Dutch parliamentary elections 2025 and solar panels

It'll soon be that time again: we'll be heading to the polls on October 29th. Before the elections, we always skim through the election manifestos to see if there's anything mentioned about solar panels and/or home batteries—so that you don't have to read them! We didn't find many surprises; most parties have some message either for or against green energy in rather vague terms. Revisiting the abolition of the net metering scheme seems to be unlikely; only at DENK did we read that "the net metering scheme must remain." It's important to realize, however, that parties can quickly forget the promises in their manifestos after the elections; for example, both PVV and BBB claimed in 2023 that they wanted to retain the net metering scheme for the time being, but the reality turned out to be very different soon after the formation of the government.

We've gone through the parties one by one, in the order in which they appear on the ballot. We've limited ourselves to the top 15 parties. NB: What we've compiled here is only a very superficial glimpse into each party's ideas.

PVV (Party for Freedom): The climate frenzy is driving us mad

As the largest party in the House of Representatives, the PVV is certainly not enthusiastic about climate policy. They state: "We will change the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth into the Ministry of Affordable Energy: no CO2 nonsense, but security of supply and lower energy costs. We will halt the energy transition and solve grid congestion: no wind turbines, no solar farms, or other weather-dependent fluctuating power. We are not mandatorily switching off natural gas, keeping our coal- and gas-fired power plants open, and building more nuclear power plants – stable and reliable." Because, they say, "The climate frenzy is driving us mad. Climate goals are unattainable and unaffordable."

Among other things, the PVV wants to:

- Keep our modern, clean coal- and gas-fired power plants open
- Build new nuclear power plants, including small modular reactors; focus on thorium
- No more new wind turbines; No new solar farms
- More and faster gas and oil extraction in the North Sea

Incidentally, we're also seeing these "thorium" power plants being mentioned by other parties; reason enough to take a closer look at what exactly that entails. It turns out this is an experimental type of nuclear power plant, of which only one has been built so far, in China.

GREENLEFT/PvdA: Climate Justice

For GreenLeft/PvdA, the focus is on "climate justice." This includes things like "helping people insulate their homes and install solar panels to lower their energy bills." They also want to "compensate" tenants who have to pay more for solar panels due to the abrupt abolition of the net metering scheme.

For GreenLeft/PvdA, electricity from solar and wind will be the engine of our future energy system. "We will store energy for when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining," they say, "for example, using batteries. Gas-fired power plants running on green hydrogen are the backup for longer periods without wind or sun. In addition, we will make smarter use of the electricity grid. For example, by encouraging businesses and households to use electricity outside peak hours, supporting solutions like batteries and electrolysis, and better matching local energy demand with local solar and wind supply."

The party is aginst using public money for nuclear power plants. They want to use the €14 billion reserved for four future nuclear power plants to help households, businesses, and farmers with sustainability measures that will have a quick and definite impact. They believe private parties can invest in nuclear power plants themselves if they so choose.

VVD: Energy = Security

Contrary to GL/PvdA, the VVD is fully committed to nuclear energy as a "stable energy source." The VVD also focuses on other forms of energy, such as offshore wind energy combined with hydrogen, green gas, solar energy, and geothermal energy. "We will reduce our dependence on unreliable countries," they declare, "we will ensure security of supply and ensure we can meet our raw material needs." For the VVD, both energy policy and climate policy are equal to security policy. "In a world where Putin uses the gas tap as a weapon, we must reduce our energy independence as quickly as possible." (sic: they mean, of course, "energy dependency" - ed.) They also state: "That's why we must invest heavily in nuclear energy, offshore wind energy, hydrogen, green gas, solar energy, and geothermal energy, and in the meantime, not shy away from new gas extraction."

NSC (New Social Contract): No 'kill switches' in solar panels

NSC also sees potential in nuclear energy, but they oppose the construction of solar farms on good agricultural land and in nature reserves, and large wind farms on land. "Solar panels are best installed on roofs and along roads and railway lines," they argue. What caught our eye is that they advocate for "a ban on kill switches for (consumer) equipment such as solar panels, charging stations, and heat pumps, so that they cannot be switched off from abroad and thus cause a blackout."

D66: Green energy is the first choice

D66 wants to "invest extensively in offshore wind turbines and solar panels on roofs, industrial estates, and on unused spaces such as roadsides." Offshore wind will become the foundation of our clean energy, D66 believes, but they are not ruling out any technology. "For a stable energy system without CO2 emissions, we remain open to nuclear energy."

Furthermore, they want to provide ways to rent solar panels and support energy cooperatives that want to set up, for example, neighborhood batteries or solar farms.

BBB (Farmers' Citizen Movement): Let's not be a climate leader

The BBB is opposed to many things, such as CO2 taxes and the electrification of energy. They are also against "sacrificing fertile agricultural land for industry, wind turbines, or solar farms without local support" and want a "pause button for wind energy." Furthermore, the BBB is "critical of the Netherlands' position as a 'climate leader' within Europe." That's why they want to keep coal-fired power plants open, for example. The BBB wants "the closure of coal-fired power plants by 2030 to be revoked as long as less efficient plants are operating elsewhere in Europe." They also strongly support nuclear energy, because "without nuclear power plants, there will be no available, reliable, and affordable energy system in the future," they believe.

CDA: We don't have the luxury to exclude any options

The CDA wants a bit of everything when it comes to energy because "in the energy transition, we don't have the luxury of excluding options. We will invest in a good mix of nuclear energy, wind energy, solar energy, hydrogen, green gas, sustainable biomass, geothermal energy, and clean fuels."

The CDA also wants to continue developing two new nuclear power plants (and not four, like many other parties). They focus on "solar panels on roofs, parking lots, and industrial estates, so that agricultural and natural lands are preserved for food and nature."

SP (Socialist Party): Collective policy and solar energy on every roof

The SP wants to "encourage solar energy on all suitable roofs of homes and buildings. By tackling this on a large scale and collectively through housing associations, housing corporations, and energy cooperatives, we ensure that tenants and people on low incomes also benefit from lower energy costs and sustainability improvements." Furthermore, they want "solar panels to remain profitable." The net metering scheme was a good solution, they believe, but "not the holy grail." However, they do want "fair compensation for tenants and homeowners who now risk being affected by the abolition of net metering." Finally, they say, "households that have installed solar panels themselves should be rewarded for this and certainly not punished with things like feed-in penalties and the loss of the net metering scheme without a good alternative."

The SP wants a halt to oil and gas projects, and says no to nuclear energy, because it is too expensive. Instead, they want to invest in energy storage with batteries to bridge moments without sun and wind.

DENK: Net metering scheme must remain

DENK wants the government to make more subsidies available for insulating rental properties and installing solar panels for private individuals. This also means that the net metering scheme must remain. The party wants to "make a massive commitment to cleaner energy and invest in solar energy and offshore wind energy."

Party for the Animals: Feed-in free of charges and tax-free

The Party for the Animals also appears to want to maintain the net metering scheme, at least in part. They write: "Self-generated electricity must be able to be fed back into the grid, free of charges and taxes. Tenants will also have the opportunity to feed back in and benefit from lower energy bills."

Furthermore, the party wants to "invest in energy projects close to home, generated on their own roof, or managed by the district or neighborhood, and in the fair production of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. As close to home as possible and always with strict requirements for sustainability, nature inclusivity, and human rights."

FVD (Forum for Democracy): Completely scrap climate policy

The FVD wants to completely halt the energy transition, "so that our country is no longer saddled with unaffordable and pointless climate policies." As a logical consequence, they want to resume gas extraction in Groningen, reopen coal-fired power plants, quickly build ten new nuclear power plants (and invest in thorium like the PVV), ban wind turbines, expand gas extraction in the North Sea, and also begin gas extraction in the Wadden Sea.

SGP (Reformed Political Party): targeted support for solar panels on roofs if necessary

The SGP notes that "the abrupt abolition of the net metering scheme has dented the attractiveness of solar panels." According to them, "more solar panels on roofs are needed in the long term. If necessary, a targeted support scheme will be introduced." The party wants "the production of sustainable energy to continue to be stimulated," but does believe that the national government should support the construction of at least two large nuclear power plants, with "good adaptation into the landscape and ensuring Sunday rest during construction" as important preconditions.

Furthermore, according to the SGP, "a focus on consuming power at peak times through, among other things, e-boilers, battery systems, and electrolyzers is necessary."

Christian Union: Standards for Home Batteries

The Christian Union's platform is notable for advocating for "clear standards for fire safety, warranties and the lifespan of home batteries, standards for the use of rare earth materials, and a mandatory option for grid operators to switch them on and off." The Christian Union believes the foundation of our future energy supply will be a mix of wind and solar energy. "We will phase out gas- and coal-fired power plants and supplement the energy system with two new large nuclear power plants. We will also explore the use of small modular nuclear power plants (SMRs) from European manufacturers as an alternative or complement to large nuclear power plants."

Volt: a phased requirement for solar panels on all surface roofs

Volt envisions a future that "runs entirely on a mix of clean energy sources." Nuclear energy will remain part of this energy mix. Volt would like to "introduce a phased requirement for solar panels on all surface roofs. This way, the large roofs of distribution centers, offices, and government buildings will be covered with solar panels, instead of green fields." Volt also supports subsidies for the development of batteries that are developed without rare, polluting raw materials.

JA21: Choosing nuclear energy over wind turbines and solar farms

Thorium power plants are also on the menu at JA21. Nuclear energy is a key element of JA21's ideology, as it "is sustainable, provides security, creates jobs, and fosters innovation." This means: starting the phased construction of four nuclear power plants as soon as possible; having multiple SMRs (small nuclear power plants) operating in the Netherlands before 2035; offering long-term guarantees so that nuclear power plants can be built commercially viable; and investing in thorium technology and methods for reusing nuclear waste.

There you have it, a quick overview of the programs of the first 15 parties. Was there anything in them you agreed with? On October 29th, we'll see which ideas resonate most. You will be voting if you can, right? Good luck making your choice!