Turning off solar panels from 2027? The unspoken 'Zero-Export' solution for existing inverters
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As January 1, 2027 approaches, anxiety is growing among Dutch solar panel owners. The definitive discontinuation of the net-metering scheme (salderingsregeling), combined with the introduction of feed-in tariffs by energy suppliers, is raising fundamental questions. Will households soon have to pay structurally for their sustainable generation, or will they simply earn back their investment more slowly?
The market is responding to this with new tools, such as the updated comparison tool from Energievergelijk.nl, which offers consumers insight into their energy costs with and without solar panels. Market data shows that many consumers, out of sheer confusion, are considering turning their solar panels off completely or even removing them from their roof. However, this is a costly misconception. There is a technical alternative that is not mentioned anywhere in the current discussion: Zero-Export via the existing, non-hybrid inverter.
The financial pitfall of turning everything off
The idea of switching off solar panels completely to avoid feed-in tariffs is highly unwise from a financial perspective. The end of the net-metering scheme primarily means that consumers earn less on their surplus, not that an installation inherently costs money immediately.
When you turn the panels off completely, you do indeed eliminate the feed-in, but you immediately destroy your own consumption (direct self-consumption). Power that is consumed directly in the home during generation, for example by a heat pump, household appliances, or an EV charger, does not need to be purchased from the energy supplier. You pay no supply rate, no energy tax, and of course no feed-in tariffs for this electricity. In the end, you are therefore paying for electricity that you could otherwise have generated and used for free.
If a household with quality panels (such as Aiko, Jinko, DMEGC, Hyundai, Trina Solar, Longi, or JaSolar) generates 4,200 kWh annually, of which 1,400 kWh is used directly in the house and 2,800 kWh is fed back, the own consumption results in a large saving. If you turn the installation off? Then you have to purchase that 1,400 kWh entirely at the full retail rate on the market. Therefore, switching it off completely is not financially attractive.
The silent solution: Zero-Export on non-hybrid inverters
In almost all public advice, it is stated that one must either accept the feed-in tariffs or invest immediately in a hybrid inverter with a battery. A home battery matched to the right capacity, such as the Dyness Powerbrick Plus or Dyness DL5.0, is absolutely interesting for maximizing self-consumption, but the reality is that not everyone can or wants to make this investment just yet. Fortunately, presenting an expensive battery as the only way out is an incomplete representation of the technological reality.
An efficient intermediate solution, which works excellently when you cannot or do not yet want to invest in a battery system, is to configure dynamic export limitation, or Zero-Export, on your existing, non-hybrid inverter. Most modern standard inverters from quality brands such as Solis or Goodwe already have built-in software functionalities to cap generation in real time based on the actual demand in the house.
By placing a compatible Smart Meter or installing measuring coils (CT clamps) in the meter cupboard, the installation measures exactly how much power the home is using at that specific moment. This data is fed back directly to the inverter (for example, your existing Solis or Goodwe).
If the panels can generate 3,000 Watts on a sunny afternoon, but the house only requires 500 Watts at that moment, the inverter regulates its output down to exactly 500 Watts within milliseconds. Result: you enjoy your own free solar power to the maximum, while the meter for feed-in to the grid remains at exactly zero. You therefore do not pay a cent in feed-in tariffs. See here for a brief instruction on the inverter settings.
The step-by-step plan for return protection from 2027
To optimize your energy bill after the net-metering scheme expires, you do not need to invest a lot of money immediately. A phased approach is also perfectly fine technically and economically:
- Step 1: Optimize behavior and timing. Use as much solar energy as possible at the time of generation. Activate the dishwasher, washing machine, or EV charger during the day when the sun is shining.
- Step 2: Install measuring coils or Smart Meter. Have your installer connect an energy meter or CT coils to your current inverter and activate the 'Zero-Export' or 'Limitation' mode. This protects you immediately against the negative impact of feed-in tariffs without losing your valuable own consumption.
- Step 3: Consider future storage. Only when you are ready for the next step can you consider investing in an (AC-coupled) battery or home battery from reputable brands such as Anker Solix, Pylontech, Dyness, BYD or Solis storage to create even more independence. A model with perfectly matched capacity, such as the Dyness Powerbrick Plus or Dyness DL5.0, then forms an excellent basis.
Conclusion
The assertion that solar panels will become worthless from 2027 or that turning them off is the only remedy against feed-in tariffs is factually incorrect. The financial focus simply shifts definitively from 'quantity of generation' to 'quality of management'. By using the intelligence already present in your current inverter via measuring coils or a smart meter, you retain the full benefit of your own consumption, while keeping full control of your energy bill. Contact us if you have any questions about any of the solutions above.