The municipality of Peel and Maas, a municipality in the south of Netherlands, has been granted the authority by the court to enforce action against a greenhouse full of solar panels, in which little or no cultivation currently takes place. The ruling is supported by Glastuinbouw Nederland, which is currently involved in a similar enforcement case against a 'raised solar field' in Schandelo, near Venlo.
"In the past two years, many subsidies (SDE) have been provided to large market parties for installing solar panels on the greenhouses of horticultural entrepreneurs who are discontinuing their operations. These market parties promise good returns to the owners of greenhouses or permit holders and claim that all this is possible without a permit. The ruling by the Limburg District Court shows that this cannot and should not be allowed. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is," argues the advocacy group.
Glastuinbouw Nederland advises entrepreneurs who are approached for such projects to think carefully and be well-informed about what is possible. In many cases, in areas zoned for greenhouse horticulture (such as concentration areas), using a greenhouse horticulture company exclusively for solar energy generation is not desirable, not permitted, and therefore not exempt from requiring a permit, according to Glastuinbouw Nederland.
This does not detract from the fact that the concept of solar panels on a greenhouse roof could be a good exit strategy for existing, solitary farms, as the exterior hardly changes. However, it adds: "Given this ruling, it would be wise to coordinate with the municipality as well, so that use and zoning are and remain consistent."
It is unclear whether the unsuccessful party in the case concerning the project in Meijel, in the municipality of Peel and Maas, will accept the ruling or file an appeal. The editors have posed this question to the solar panel company involved.
Source: Glastuinbouw Nederland