Subsidies to companies investing in green energy can be lowered, according to economic affairs minister Maxime Verhagen.

The minister intends to lower the subsidy per kilowatt hour and per cubic metre while raising the total amount available from €1.5bn this year to €1.7bn in 2012, says website nu.nl.
In 2012 the subsidy will be 7 eurocent for each kilowatt hour of green energy and 48 eurocent for each cubic metre. Companies will compete on efficiency for the money.
The amount of green energy created by this year’s subsidy is equal to the electricity used by 600,000 households. 2012’s subsidy will equal 700,000 households, says the minister.