Netherlands’ Cumulative PV Capacity Hits 2.7 GW

• Dutch statistics agency says Netherlands installed 700 MW of solar capacity in 2017
• PV electricity generation increased from 1.6 billion kWh to 2.1 billion kWh for the year
• PV accounted for over 12% of renewable energy generation in 2017, still well below the 60% for wind
• New additions increased the PV cumulative to 2.7 GW at the end of 2017

With 700 MW of PV added in the Netherlands during 2017, the country's cumulative installed PV capacity rose by 35% to 2.7 GW, up from 2 GW in 2016, according to the Dutch statistical office, the  Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS). But the national agency's first estimate for 2017 is far below the 853 MW published by the Dutch commercial platform company Solar Solutions in January (see Netherlands Installed 853 MW PV In 2017). But the CBS number is still much higher than 2016 installed additions, when 525 MW was installed.

 According to CBS statistics, the Netherlands generated 17 billion kWh of clean energy in 2017, an increase of nearly 12% from the 15 billion kWh produced in 2016. PV accounted for 2.1 billion kWh during 2017, up from 1.7 kWh in 2016. Wind power led with a 60% share.

A November GTM Research estimate for 2018 expects that 13 countries, including the Netherlands, could add over 1 GW PV capacity  this year (see GTM: Spanish PV Market To Lead Europe In 2018-19).