Do you have a high energy bill and space on your roof? Then solar panels may be the solution. Many fruit and vegetable companies have recently taken the step and we are therefore seeing a more serious move towards sustainability in the sector. With the current low interest rates, the favourable advantages of a green finance and the SDE subsidy, purchasing a sun panel system is a sensible investment.
SDE+ subsidy
The development of sustainable energy supplies is stimulated through the SDE+ subsidy. A large scale consumer connections and a large roof surface are two important necessities. Fruit trader J.E. de Ruiter, Van Haaften Fruit and Bloedbessen meet these requirements and have chosen sustainability. The installations were provided by Solar Comfort, part of the J.C. van Kessel Groep from Geldermalsen.
Bloedbessen, Asch
744 sun panels, average annual yield 165,000 kWh
Jos de Greef: "It was important to use to choose a party who know the business. There are a lot of suppliers on the market and Solar Comfort has proven to be a reliable partner. We have the same experience with the architect bureau and construction company in the J.C. van Kessel Groep. The big advantage of Solar Comfort is that they have the sun panels independently tested before they're placed. It really gives you the feeling that you have the best possible panels with the highest turnover."
Rinie Evertse of Solar Comfort picks up on the testing. "Testing for damage happens by putting the solar panels through a type of x-ray machine in a mobile laboratory. The main cause of damage is transport and overhaul. The damage can almost never be seen with the naked eye, but is visible under x-ray."
Fruit trader J.E. de Ruiter
820 sun panels, average annual yield 177,000 kWh
Johan de Ruiter: "Construction company J.C. van Kessel built our new warehouse three years ago. 18 tonnes more steel was processed in that, with the intention to lay down sun panels. At the time the price of energy decreased, but now that we have the SDE subsidy we earn the entire investment back in 9 years. The choice of Solar Comfort was taken by us due to our experiences with the parent company. The stories we heard on the way about testing and after care confirmed this."
Rinie Evertse: "The reason we test every shipment is simple. The customer gets what they paid for. This way we also know that a certain energy yield is made. For companies that apply for an SDE subsidy it is important to make an as high as possible energy yield. The subsidy is only given over the power created."
Van Haaften Fruit
2316 solar panels, part of which full-black, average annual yield 524,500 kWh
Peter van Haaften: "We had had the desire to foresee the warehouses of solar panels for a while. But with the day to day activity of the company we didn't see a away to immerse ourselves in applying for a SDE subsidy and organising this all."
Rinie nods understandingly. "The jungle of rules and subsidies seems to be impenetrable at first. We work with it every day and so organise the application, handle the administration, guide the installations and certification of the bruto production metre and guide the contracts for supplying the power pack. Our goal is to unburden, so that the customer can focus on their own company business and core tasks."
Monitoring the system
Peter van Haaften: "Now that the system has been installed we can check ourselves by computer, mobile or tablets how much power is being generated. The app shows us live how the changing weather conditions influence the system. We can also see the live usage, which gives us a better feeling with the energy streams within the company."
Rinie laughs: "We often hear of people checking the app after every change in weather after the installation. It fades. We also monitor all installed systems from our office. Are they doing what they're supposed to? This means we can intervene on time, if anything out of the ordinary happens. The monitoring system shows exactly what section of the panels is having problems. If necessary the problem panels can be taken from the roof to be examined with testing equipment."
Also for individuals
"Besides the big systems mentioned here we also advise, supply and install for individuals. The completely black, so called 'Full Black' panels have been very popular recently. Individuals are also profiting from low prices at the moment. They don't pay tax with the current arrangement, which makes the earning back time a lot shorter," adds Rinie.
"Besides the big systems mentioned here we also advise, supply and install for individuals. The completely black, so called 'Full Black' panels have been very popular recently. Individuals are also profiting from low prices at the moment. They don't pay tax with the current arrangement, which makes the earning back time a lot shorter," adds Rinie.
For more information:
Solar Comfort
Tielerweg 19
4191 NE Geldermalsen
0031 (0) 345 589 418
mail@solarcomfort.nl
www.solarcomfort.nl.