Ronald Huisman, Professor of Sustainable Energy Finance at Erasmus School of Economics, was recently asked for his expertise on the solar panel market. In an article by the Dutch newspaper Het Algemeen Dagblad, he elucidates on the challenging times for solar panel providers.
Huisman argues that demand for solar panels has declined considerably. 'Indeed, you now see that that market has completely collapsed and many manufacturers and installation companies have run into problems. This is not only because of the removal of the net-metering scheme, but also because people are uncertain about the future. For instance, there is grid congestion, but there is also political uncertainty. Many people are thinking: which way are we going?'
Yet, the professor also believes that the demand for solar panels will eventually recover. Not only because of the climate, but also because of geopolitics. For instance, the situation with Russia is still threatening and America, from which we buy a lot of gas, is now also acting tough. If we want to make ourselves less dependent on other countries, this solar energy is hugely important, Huisman said. ‘People are afraid of higher energy prices anyway, and then renewable energy is a godsend.’ Finally, the professor points out that it remains lucrative to buy solar panels. 'Especially if energy prices rise. We are now temporarily in a dip, but I think demand will pick up soon.'
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You can read the full article from Het Algemeen Dagblad, 11 March 2025, here.
