Trees and solar panels
The municipality of Zoetermeer is happy when homeowners take energy-efficient measures, such as installing solar panels. But we also find it very important that greenery and trees are protected. That is why we are careful with granting permits to cut down trees or prune municipal trees. Two principles therefore apply to installing solar panels.
We do not grant permission for pruning or cutting down an existing municipal tree if it provides (too) much shade for new or existing solar panels. This also applies to granting a cutting permit for a private tree in protected areas. In the Municipal Gazette on www.overheid.nl you will find the college decision Update map of protected trees .
As a resident, you ultimately decide for yourself whether or not you want to install solar panels. Whether solar panels are beneficial depends on the environment of your home and any changes to that environment in the future. This also means that you have to take into account the growth of the trees that are already there. You can always consult the manager in your neighborhood for this.
When we plant one or more new trees, we take into account various circumstances. For example, the position of the sun, homes and existing solar panels. Because we also have to take into account cables and pipes, we sometimes decide to plant a tree in that location anyway.