Sales of residential battery storage systems in the Netherlands have more than doubled over the past nine months ahead of the phaseout of the country’s net-metering scheme for residential PV at the end of this year, according to Sunergy Research, a Dutch energy supplier specializing in services for residential solar owners.
“Net metering will end on Jan. 1, and the market will change drastically for consumers,” Sunergy Research CEO Rolf Heynen told ESS news. “For many years, solar panels were easy to sell thanks to net metering and a very clear business case, with electricity prices stable at €0.21/kWh. Now, electricity prices have skyrocketed, and dynamic tariffs have made the business case more complex, alongside public discussions about the balancing market, variable grid tariffs starting in 2029, and home batteries.”
“With compensation for electricity exports expected to fall sharply, maximizing self-consumption is becoming increasingly important,” Heynen said. “Today, the average Dutch household consumes just 30% of the solar electricity it generates, exporting the remaining 70% to the grid. A home battery can dramatically reverse that balance, potentially increasing self-consumption to around 70%.”
Sunergy Research also reported that installations of small home batteries with capacities of up to 5 kWh were more than four times higher in September than in January, while installations of larger systems, ranging from 5 kWh to 15 kWh, nearly tripled over the same period.
The company’s data also show that installations of plug-in batteries, a relatively new segment of the Dutch energy storage market, have more than doubled in nine months, making them the largest category in the residential battery market.
Heynen said the rapid growth of plug-in batteries indicates that the market is expanding beyond early adopters.
“What makes this development particularly significant is the breadth of demand,” he said. “Smaller, accessible batteries are opening the market to ordinary households, while larger, permanently installed systems appeal to consumers who have already invested heavily in electrification. The barriers to battery ownership are falling rapidly.”
Sunergy has also launched its Home Batteries Selection Guide, a free, 33-page publication aimed at helping residential solar owners assess battery storage options.
The guide identifies two main market segments: plug-and-play batteries for smaller PV installations and permanently installed systems for households with higher electricity demand.
Plug-and-play batteries are particularly suitable for homes with around six solar panels and no heat pump or electric vehicle charger, according to the guide. These systems typically offer around 5 kWh of storage capacity, with prices starting at approximately €1,000 ($1,118.9).
Larger households may benefit from permanently installed batteries with capacities ranging from 5 kWh to 20 kWh, starting at approximately €4,000. The guide recommends capacities of 5 kWh to 10 kWh for typical single-phase installations and 10 kWh to 20 kWh for three-phase systems, depending on household requirements.
Battery sizing should take into account household electricity consumption, solar generation patterns, inverter capacity, backup power requirements and potential electricity trading, the report says. Sunergy also warns that oversized batteries are often recommended to consumers, potentially undermining investment returns.
Research estimates cited in the guide suggest payback periods of two to 15 years, with annual savings of approximately €200 to €1,000 for permanently installed systems. The guide also highlights the role of energy management systems (EMS) in coordinating solar generation, battery charging and household consumption.
The publication identifies additional revenue opportunities from electricity trading, grid balancing and congestion management. Sunergy also recommends professional installation, adequate ventilation and careful consideration of battery compatibility, expandability and insurance requirements.
The guide concludes that appropriately sized batteries combined with intelligent energy management could improve the economics of residential solar as the Netherlands phases out net metering.
From ESS News
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