Solar Fields
Gemert-Bakel Begins Process for Up to Five Solar Parks
At the national, provincial, and regional levels, the goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050. This requires energy from renewable sources. For our municipality, solar energy is the most important source for achieving our climate goals. Solar panels on rooftops alone do not generate enough electricity to meet future demand. That is why we are also moving forward with solar farms.
The municipal council has established guidelines regarding where and under what conditions solar farms may be located within the municipality. These guidelines are set forth in the 2024 Solar Farm Assessment Framework and Evaluation Framework. These guidelines were adopted on February 13, 2025. The municipality is launching a pilot program for up to five solar farms.
The application period for solar field plans closed on July 13, 2025. 11 plans were submitted. These 11 plans were reviewed for admissibility. Missing information has been completed. The period for internal review runs until January 2026. After that, the initial assessment will be shared with the initiators.
Would you like to submit your plan for a solar field?
Unfortunately, registration is no longer possible. The registration period ran from April 14 to July 13, 2025.
Would you like to learn more about solar farms in our municipality and the steps we’re taking?
The City Council has made agreements about where and under what conditions solar fields can have a place in our municipality. These agreements are contained in the Consideration Framework Solar Fields(external link). These agreements were adopted on February 13, 2025. We will start with a maximum of five solar farms.
In the coming period, we will be taking the following steps:
- From April 14 to July 13, 2025, interested parties submitted their plans to the municipality.
- In August and September, experts from our municipality and external specialists will evaluate the plans.
- In October at the earliest, the college will submit the list of suitable initiatives to the municipal council.
- The municipal council will decide no earlier than November which five plans will be developed further. These plans will also be followed by a community consultation process in which the local community will be carefully involved.
- Once the details have been finalized, the council will decide whether the five plans are ready for the permit application.
Why is the municipality now moving forward with solar farms?
Solar farms provide renewable energy. This is necessary because we’re all going to use more and more electricity, and we want to generate it sustainably. Solar panels on rooftops alone are not enough. Wind energy is not an option in our municipality. The municipality does not make decisions regarding other forms of sustainable electricity, such as nuclear energy. Moreover, some of these technologies are not yet sufficiently developed.
How do we get started?
We are starting with a pilot project involving up to five relatively small solar farms (no more than 10 hectares each). We want to distribute these solar farms throughout the municipality. They will be surrounded by a green border, and we will ensure that they blend into the landscape. We are now asking project initiators to submit plans, but it is expected to take several years before the solar fields are actually built. This is because the power grid is at capacity. By getting started on the plans now, we will be prepared for the future.
We review the plans based on the Solar Farm Assessment Framework.(external link) The outcome of the assessment is submitted to the City Council. It chooses up to five projects from these.
For the selected projects, a public participation process will follow, during which you, as a resident, can have your say on the plan. Once this process is complete, the project initiator will have a plan with which to apply for a permit from the municipality.
What does this project mean for you as a resident?
A solar farm may eventually be built in your neighborhood. We believe it’s important for you to have a say in this matter. Do you live near one of the five selected projects? If so, you’ll automatically receive an invitation to participate in the discussion.
Do you have any questions or concerns at this time? If so, please contact A. Rijken at gemeente@gemert-bakel.nl.
Previous posts
Opportunity to provide input on the 2024 Solar Farm Assessment Framework and Review Framework
Key text: The review period for the draft is over. You can find the final version of the consideration and review framework for solar fields here.(external link)
The current consideration framework for solar fields is being updated. In addition, an assessment framework for solar fields has been prepared.
Starting Thursday, October 24, 2024, the draft “2024 Assessment Framework and Review Framework for Solar Farms” of the Municipality of Gemert-Bakel will be available for public review for six weeks (through Thursday, December 5, 2024).
For consideration
The review period for the draft is over.
Would you like to see the draft consideration framework and assessment framework solar fields 2024? You can do this via the pdf below or at the town hall (Ridderplein 1 in Gemert) during the opening hours.
Information meeting
On November 11, 2024, the information meeting on solar fields was held. The presentation and answers to the questions asked are at the bottom of this page.
Response and decision-making
The review period for the draft is over.
Do you have comments on the draft assessment framework and review framework solar fields 2024? You can send them digitally togemeente@gemert-bakel.nl or by mail to P.O. Box 10.000, 5420 DA in Gemert. Your reaction may lead to an adjustment in the draft documents. After the public consultation period, the consideration and assessment framework for solar fields will be submitted to the municipal council for adoption.
NEXT STEP in Decision-Making: Assessment Framework for Solar Farms
On January 7, 2025, the municipal executive decided to modify parts of the draft assessment framework for solar fields . These adjustments were made in response to views expressed. The adjusted version will be presented to the city council for adoption on February 13, 2025. Through this link you can read the adapted version(external link), the changes are marked in yellow.
Before the documents go to the council, discussion will take place in the Space and Mobility Committee on Jan. 29, 2025.
You can respond to the final assessment framework by making use of the right to speak during the committee meeting. More information can be found on our website: Participating in a meeting (right to speak) | Municipality of Gemert-Bakel
If you have any questions, you can ask them in writing by sending an email to gemeente@gemert-bakel.nl.
Final consideration and review framework solar fields
On Thursday, February 13, the Gemert-Bakel City Council discussed the assessment frameworks and the 2024 Solar Farm Assessment Framework. The council decided:
- Repeal the current consideration framework for solar fields (council decision July 9, 2020);
- To adopt the 2024 Gemert-Bakel Solar Farm Assessment and Review Framework, under which the buffer zone will be planted before the solar panels are installed.