Myths about solar panels
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"Solar panels only make sense if the roof faces south"
A south-facing roof is favourable, but a roof facing east or west still gives you enough yield to save a good deal.
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"Making a solar panel costs more energy than it produces"
In the early days of solar panels, making them did indeed take a lot of energy. The technology has come a long way since, with particular attention to making production cleaner. So it is no longer true that a panel costs more energy than it produces.
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"The sun does not shine often enough in the Netherlands to benefit from solar panels"
Solar panels run on light, not on sunshine, so it does not have to be sunny every day. In fact, on very hot, bright days panels give a slightly lower yield than when the sun is less fierce. So yes, you can make the most of the sun in the Netherlands.
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"I have no room for solar panels, so they are no use to me"
Even a small number of panels generates your own energy and cuts your monthly costs. Six panels already save you around 400 euros a year and 1,400 kilos of CO2.
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"Solar panels are not good for the environment at all."
Solar panels mean you use no, or less, energy from fossil fuels, which helps the environment.
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"I rent my house, so I cannot have solar panels"
You can have solar panels in a rented house too. There are two routes: as a tenant you can buy panels in agreement with your landlord, and when you move you either take them with you or have the new tenants take them over. If the roof is shared, you can ask the housing association to fit panels and divide the energy between the residents.
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"The warmer it is, the higher the yield"
Solar panels run on light, not on temperature or sunshine. The more light there is in a day, the more energy you generate, which means they generate on a cloudy day as well. Panels do produce more in spring and summer, but not because it is warmer or brighter: there are simply more hours of light than in autumn and winter. Read more in our blog "How do solar panels work?".
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"You need planning permission to fit solar panels"
You need no permit to fit panels on your own roof. Only if you live in a listed building is permission required.
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"There is no subsidy left for buying solar panels"
There is unfortunately no national subsidy left for buying solar panels. You can however reclaim the VAT you paid from the tax office, which can run into hundreds of euros. You can also feed surplus power back to the grid (net metering), and some regions do have a subsidy. See the Dutch energy subsidy guide.
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"Solar panels are ugly and spoil the look of my house."
Panels used to be blue, but they have come a long way and are now an even black, which stands out less. It remains a matter of taste, of course.
