Façades of non-residential buildings in the Netherlands could host about 36 GW of solar capacity, according to a RVO research
Adoption is minimal at present with less than 0.1% of solar panels installed on façades, but there is strong potential
Rooftop PV remains more efficient as it is a proven application, but façade solar will work with policy support, it recommends
Building façades in the Netherlands across offices, commercial buildings, schools, and other non-residential buildings, can host around 36 GW of solar energy, according to a new report from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the report sees solar panels on the façades as particularly interesting for buildings that already have rooftop solar panels installed, and even for those whose roofs are unsuitable for solar panels.
In this research, RVO said it sought to explore the potential for using solar panels on the façades of existing non-residential buildings.
Currently, less than 0.1% of all solar panels in the Netherlands are mounted on façades. Most of the 19 solar projects on existing non-residential buildings in the country have capacities under 50 kW, while the largest has an installed capacity of 250 kW.
RVO also studied 14 international projects some of which had much larger capacity. The largest project has 1 MW capacity on a warehouse in Germany. Such larger capacities are possible due to greater availability of sunlight and supportive policies. For instance, Switzerland offers additional subsidy for solar panels installed at an angle greater than 75 degrees.
Nonetheless, the researchers found the number of such projects globally remains limited, suggesting that market conditions in other countries are not necessarily better than in the Netherlands.
The research identifies 2 promising use cases in the Netherlands. One of these is buildings with full or unsuitable roofs but high energy demand such as warehouses, distribution centers, and office buildings with large façades. Such structures can benefit from regular monocrystalline solar panels installed as solar cassettes, meaning the panels are set at an optimal angle. This is also a cost-effective solution, according to the report.
The other promising use will be buildings where appearance matters. These could be premium offices or public buildings where colored or printed solar panels may be preferred despite higher costs.
Despite its potential, façade PV faces challenges such as permit requirements, higher costs, rules related to building aesthetics, and limited awareness of subsidies. RVO recommends easing permit rules or increasing knowledge sharing to help adoption.
The research authors agree that rooftop PV is generally more effective than façade PV for most existing non-residential buildings, especially when designed for self-consumption due to grid congestion. However, they recommend that façade PV can work in specific cases if supported by better guidance, data on costs and returns, and clearer regulations.
Authorities can help by promoting knowledge sharing and exploring applications on public buildings, while industry players should look at standardizing terminology and developing tailored solutions with clear financial insights for different building types, recommends the report.
The complete research, in Dutch, is available for free download on RVO’s website.