Market intelligence study helpful for SDE++ application

What will change in the upcoming SDE round in October?

“The biggest change we see this year is once again in terms of the budget. The total budget for this year is €8 billion, the same as in 2024, but the distribution has been tightened up again by means of so-called ‘fences’ (hekjes). This means that three sub-budgets of €750 million each have been reserved for specific areas, such as low- and high-temperature heat and molecules. Another important change concerns the permit requirements. For most categories, the requirements have been eased, making it easier to submit a complete application on time. For solar PV and wind projects, however, the permit requirements remain strict: multiple permits still need to be submitted.

In addition, several new technologies have been opened up this year. These include vertical solar panels, Direct Air Capture (DAC), electric boilers that operate outside peak hours, and hydrogen recovery from waste streams. These are important additions that clearly align with the broader climate objectives and the desire to give new innovative technologies a chance within the SDE++.”

Are there any other changes in this year’s SDE round?

“Certainly! One notable innovation is that OPEX subsidies are now also being provided for electric boilers that have already been installed but are not currently in operation. This supports part of the operational costs, which significantly strengthens the business case for this technology. We also expect the large CCS projects to submit strong applications again. In previous rounds, we saw that a large part of the available budget went to CO₂ capture and storage. It is obvious that this year will be no different, given the scale and importance of these projects for the national climate targets.

In practice, this means that competition between technologies will remain fierce. Both proven technologies and new categories will have to fight for their place in a complex playing field of budgets, barriers, and intense competition. This requires specific insights into the best submission strategy for the technology in question.”

Do you have any good tips for applicants? For example, regarding specific technologies?

A great tip? PNO Innovation is currently putting the finishing touches to an ‘SDE++ Market Intelligence Study’. This study—a comprehensive report—examines the expected tender process and helps applicants determine the optimal application strategy. It addresses questions such as: How high should I bid? When? Should I lower my price to increase my chances of receiving a subsidy? And if so, by how much? Anyone who has worked with the SDE++ program before knows how important these questions are for optimizing subsidy opportunities. We are compiling the study based on years of experience with the SDE++ program and hundreds of successful application processes.”

Who is the ‘SDE++ Market Intelligence Study’ intended for?

“The study is primarily intended for project developers with concrete projects that they want to submit for the 2025 SDE round. This is especially true when it comes to large (or multiple) subsidy applications or complex projects. But the report also contains a wealth of knowledge for new entrants to the Dutch market who want insight into how the SDE++ scheme works and what this market looks like. And thanks to its broad scope, the study is also very useful for applicants who want to broaden their horizons. For example, parties that are well versed in the development of, say, solar parks, have much less insight into developments in the field of CCS, to name just one popular growth technology. Or in the field of wind energy, geothermal energy, biomass CHP, industrial heat pumps, E-boilers, or electrolysis. Anyone interested in the SDE Market Intelligence Study report 2025 is welcome to contact us!

Interested in the SDE++ Market Intelligence Report?

Would you like to order the report, or do you have any questions about it first? Please send us your contact details using the contact form at the bottom of this page.