The Senate has spoken. The phasing out of the net metering scheme has been postponed, but what does this mean for your payback period? We calculate it for you. Solar panels remain an excellent investment, even with the new rules. The average payback period remains under 7 years, which means you benefit from free solar energy for years to come.
The net metering scheme allows you to return the electricity you don’t use to the grid and offset it against the electricity you draw. Although the net metering scheme ends on 1 January 2027, it remains financially attractive to purchase solar panels.
What exactly is the net metering scheme?
Net metering means you may offset the electricity your solar panels feed back to the grid during the day against the electricity you draw in the evening and at night. If you feed back 2,500 kWh per year and consume 3,500 kWh, you only pay for the remaining 1,000 kWh. You thus receive the full consumer price — including energy tax — for the electricity you feed back. That is exactly what has made solar panels so profitable in recent years.
What is changing and when?
Politicians agree that full net metering will disappear in the long term. The exact date has shifted several times, but the direction is clear:
- Now: You still net-meter 100% of the electricity you feed back.
- After the phase-out: You may only offset a portion and receive a feed-in remuneration for the rest — a lower amount per kWh that the energy supplier sets itself.
- Feed-in costs: Some suppliers already charge extra costs for customers who feed back a lot. So compare not only the supply tariff, but also the feed-in remuneration and any feed-in costs.
Calculation example: payback period under the new rules
Suppose: a system of 10 panels costs around €4,500 (including 0% VAT) and generates approximately 3,800 kWh per year. If you use 35% of that directly yourself, net metering quickly saves you €700 to €900 per year on your energy bill. That gives a payback period of 5 to 7 years. It also remains profitable after the phase-out: by using as much electricity directly yourself (self-consumption), you are less dependent on the feed-in remuneration.
Is a home battery worthwhile now?
As net metering ends in 2027, it becomes more attractive to store your own generated electricity rather than feed it back. A home battery raises your self-consumption from around 35% to 60-70%, making you less dependent on the feed-in remuneration. Battery prices are falling, but calculate carefully whether the investment pays off for your consumption — for many households that only becomes interesting once net metering is actually reduced.
A plug-in home battery such as the Zendure SolarFlow connects to your existing inverter, so you can use more of your own generated electricity instead of feeding it back — without major installation work.
What should you do now?
Are you in doubt about solar panels? Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ moment. As long as net metering still (partly) exists, you benefit to the maximum, and the panels continue to generate electricity that you use yourself afterwards. Do consciously compare energy suppliers on their feed-in remuneration and any feed-in costs — in the long run that matters more than a few euros’ discount on the supply tariff.
Combine your solar panels with a green energy supplier for maximum return. Vandebron supplies 100% Dutch green electricity and connects you directly to a wind turbine or solar farm. New customers now receive up to €420 welcome discount.
Frequently asked questions
Do solar panels remain profitable without net metering?
Yes. By using your own generated electricity directly, you still save on your energy bill. The payback period rises slightly, but for most households it remains under 10 years, while panels last 25 years or longer.
What is a feed-in remuneration?
That is the amount your energy supplier pays for electricity you feed back and do not net-meter. It is lower than the consumer price and varies per supplier.
Should I buy a home battery now?
Not necessarily. A battery mainly becomes interesting once net metering is reduced. First calculate whether it is profitable for your consumption and generation.
Read also: Green Electricity Comparison 2026
Related guide: why a home battery matters now saldering ends.