The Hague, 17 April 2026 – PostNL installs parcel lockers powered entirely by solar energy in the coming period, marking a first in the Netherlands. This innovation makes it possible to place parcel lockers at locations without a grid connection and in areas where grid congestion makes expansion challenging. The lockers are fully self-sufficient, providing greater flexibility in placement and a faster rollout of the parcel locker network.
The first five lockers will be installed in Friesland at locations where the new technology offers a solution, including Leeuwarden, Drachten and on the island of Terschelling. Harm Schokker, Deputy Director Out-of-Home at PostNL: “With these lockers, we remove our dependence on the electricity grid. We no longer have to wait for a connection, which in practice can sometimes take months. This allows us to expand more quickly, particularly in locations where this was previously difficult or even impossible.”
PostNL previously tested solar-powered parcel lockers and has further developed the technology in recent years. The new generation consumes less energy and stores the energy generated via a battery, ensuring reliable operation at night, during winter and in periods with limited sunlight. As a fixed mains connection is no longer required, waiting times and permitting procedures for laying cables are eliminated.