ACM Netherlands plans to introduce a feed-in tariff for large electricity producers from 2032 at the earliest
Industry groups warn the measure could increase project costs and reliance on imported electricity, leading to higher costs for consumers
Holland Solar and Energie-Nederland say uncertainty around the tariff is delaying renewable energy investments
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, or Autoriteit Consument en Markt (ACM), has decided to proceed with the development of a feed-in tariff (FIT) for large electricity producers. The new plan will come into effect no later than January 1, 2032.
Under the planned measure, ACM is set to bring into force its FIT scheme under which producers that supply electricity to the grid, including solar and wind farms, will have to share grid costs. It believes that the 2032 timeline will give the market enough time to adjust to the new rules.
The Dutch tariff framework will be linked to Germany’s upcoming system to help maintain a level playing field, said Holland Solar, the Dutch solar trade association.
The decision has raised concerns across the renewable energy sector, with industry groups warning that uncertainty over the future tariff structure is already affecting investment decisions and could slow the country’s energy transition.
Holland Solar said the lack of clarity around tariff levels is delaying investments in renewable energy projects. This could increase reliance on imported electricity and lead to higher costs for consumers. It has called on ACM to quickly clarify the next steps to avoid prolonged uncertainty, and focus on structural measures that improve grid efficiency without slowing renewable energy deployment.
Energie-Nederland, the Dutch trade association for the electricity sector, has also criticized the proposed FIT arrangement. It argues that this could undermine investment certainty for solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, and low-carbon flexible power projects.
The group said ACM had not provided sufficient evidence that the tariff would improve grid efficiency and warned that it could result in higher subsidy requirements, postponed projects, and weaker business cases for renewable developments.
This could affect upcoming subsidy rounds of SDE++ and offshore wind tenders, as developers and financiers would need to account for additional future grid costs.
Energie-Nederland is urging ACM to abandon the tariff proposal and instead adopt measures that lower overall system costs while supporting energy transition goals and security of supply.
“The current geopolitical situation calls for accelerated investment in sustainable energy. A feed-in tariff achieves exactly the opposite,” argues Energie-Nederland. It earlier pledged support for the cabinet approach to grid congestion, which called for accelerated grid construction and smarter utilization of existing infrastructure.
In 2025, the Netherlands announced plans to end its SDE++ subsidy for new solar and wind energy projects from July 2027, opting instead for a 2-way contracts for difference (CfD) scheme to ensure price stability and avoid the risk of overstimulation (see Netherlands Plans To End SDE++ Subsidy Scheme For CfD).
