Less natural gas and more self-generated electricity
The energy supply of our business premises in Rijsenhout underwent a thorough overhaul last year. The goal: to make the building less dependent on natural gas and increase the use of self-generated electricity.
A roof full of solar panels turned out not to be the best choice. Due to the relatively low power consumption and limited feed-in possibilities, a combination of 664 bifacial solar panels and battery storage proved more effective.
Solar panels, storage, and smart control
The bifacial panels also generate energy via reflection on the rear side. This results in 10% more efficiency than standard panels, with an annual yield of approximately 250 MWh.
The electricity is stored in a custom-made container with lithium-ion batteries from Tesvolt. The battery has a capacity of 100 kW and meets high safety requirements, including integrated fire suppression systems.
The hybrid system switches flexibly between solar panels, battery storage, and the regular power grid. An external party monitors the system 24/7 via energy market platforms such as GOPACS and EPEX SPOT. This allows us to use, store, or sell electricity at the most favorable moments.
The system has been operating properly since its commissioning. On some days, we are completely self-sufficient. The system is certified according to NEN 1010 and SCIOS Scope 12. By heating electrically via the air conditioning system, we make the best possible use of the generated electricity, even in winter.
Annually, we save approximately 9,000 m³ of natural gas, reduce CO₂ emissions by nearly 15 tons, and cover up to 70% of our energy consumption with self-generated electricity.
