Agrovoltaica, the 2 × 1 with which everyone wins: the Dutch Valgtwedde project will produce 104 GWh photovoltaic and 180.000 kilos of blueberries
PowerField and Solarcentury have started the construction of an 110 MW solar power plant in the Netherlands, one of the largest planned in the country. Both companies will develop the project for the British asset manager Impax.
PowerField initiated the project development work at 2016 and Solarcentury, based in the United Kingdom, will build and maintain the project that is expected to be operational in the second half of 2020. The plant will deploy near 350.000 solar panels on a land of 100 hectares in Vlagtwedde, Westerwolde and at the end, it is expected to generate 104 GWh per year.
The Vlagtwedde solar plant will have a blueberry farm adjacent to it that will extend into 24 hectares of land.
Construction has already begun and is accompanied by a detailed landscape plan, as well as greater job opportunities for the local community. Developing as an 'agrovoltaic' project, the Vlagtwedde solar plant will have a blueberry farm adjacent to it that will be extended on 24 hectares of land. According to the companies, the blueberry farm guarantees proper integration of the solar farm into the surrounding landscape and provides employment opportunities to the local population in addition to the solar farm.
“With 110 MW, this is the largest solar park in the Netherlands. 20 hectares of blueberries have been planted for the landscape integration of the solar park and employment in the municipality of Westerwolde, ”said the financial director of PowerField, Jean Louis Bertholet. “The size of the blueberry crop in combination with the solar park makes this a unique project. Soon, more than 30.000 homes will receive green electricity each year and more than 180.000 kilos of blueberries will be grown. A great example of how sustainable energy generation and landscape integration go hand in hand. ”
The Dutch market for photovoltaic solar energy has taken an important turn in recent times. So far there has been a certain rejection due to population density, high land prices and lower solar yields. However, photovoltaics is growing at a very good pace: Dutch photovoltaic capacity grew from 2,903 GW in 2017 to 4,15 GW in 2018, according to statistics IRENA, and more and more projects are being raised, spurred by the long road that remains to go to the country to reach its goal of 14% renewable energy for next year ..
ARTÍCULOS RELACIONADOS
