Solar energy in The Netherlands recent progress

The Netherlands has a well advanced policy on energy and the environment. The Governmental “Policy Document on Energy Conservation” forms the basis for the programs on renewable energy. The aim is to have 5 % (163 PJ) of the total energy produced by renewable energy sources in the year 2010. The National Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Energy Programmes 1990–1994 are managed and coordinated by Novem. Novem is an intermediary organisation acting between the government on the one hand and the marketplace on the other. Novem has a permanent staff of 270 and allocates about US$ 130 million annually as project funds. This paper provides an recent overview of the Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Programmes in the Netherlands, after introducing the government policy.