When grower Diepstraten Tuinbouw in Etten-Leur applied for a permit to construct accommodation for 54 seasonal workers on its premises, the responsible municipal authority quickly granted permission. However, owner Jan Diepstraten had to meet one condition: the energy supply had to come from renewable sources.

Diepstraten opted for solar energy. He quickly found a supplier for the required solar panels in Pon Power, thanks in part to a long-established business relationship. In the spring, Pon Power installed over one thousand Cat Solar panels on the roof of an existing shed and the roof of the new workers’ accommodation. 

CAT SOLAR

‘Cat Solar’ is not exactly a household name in the Netherlands. And that is only to be expected, since this product was only introduced in the country this year. Kees‑Jan Mes, Managing Director of Pon Power, previously had this to say about the importance of solar energy: “As we all know, the supply of fossil fuels is finite, and society therefore needs an ‘energy transition’ to a more sustainable system. Caterpillar and Pon Power have a shared aim: creating solutions to energy challenges. You can generate energy using a big engine, but also with solar panels. Side by side with Caterpillar, Pon Power is therefore entering the market for solar energy, a renewable source of electricity.”

“Although this was a great initiative from the municipal authority, I was unfamiliar with solar panel technology.” 

Owner
Diepstraten Tuinbouw BV

JAN DIEPSTRATEN

DIEPSTRATEN TUINBOUW BV

At the time of this quote, a few pilot projects had been set up, but the search for the first client was still ongoing. That ‘early adopter’ has now been found. What’s more: the entire project has already been completed and the system is operating without any problems. The client is Diepstraten Tuinbouw BV, a company based in Etten-Leur that grows fruit for Driscoll’s, a family-owned supplier of berries that operates internationally. Diepstraten specializes in soft fruit such as raspberries, strawberries and blackberries.

SEASONAL WORKERS

Owner Jan Diepstraten explains the background to the project: “Much of the work in our nursery gardens is carried out by seasonal workers. To provide them with accommodation, we wanted to build a 42 x 18 m facility on our premises.”

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEM

The municipal authority approved our application, on one condition: we had to realize a sustainable energy supply system. That was a great idea, but we had no experience in this area.” Because Diepstraten already had a Cat combined-heat-and-power (CHP) system installed, Pon Power account manager Peter van Hoek regularly visited the grower. A solution was quickly devised when Van Hoek heard about the sustainability requirements imposed by the authorities. Peter van Hoek explains: “We really enjoyed helping Diepstraten Tuinbouw to realize a sustainable energy solution. We had a wonderful product available in the form of Cat Solar panels. So we made some calculations. It turned out that a shed on the premises was ideally suited for solar panels, so we included that building in our plans as well.”

SCOOP

Diepstraten Tuinbouw BV is the first customer for Cat Solar panels with 1.011 high-tech PVT120A panels.

“We really enjoyed helping Diepstraten Tuinbouw to realize a sustainable energy solution.”

Account Manager for
EPG Product Support at Pon Power

PETER VAN HOEK

1011 HIGH-TECH PANELS

Eventually, it turned out that Pon Power could install 1011 high-tech PVT120A panels on the roofs of the two buildings. The panels are equipped with unique thin-film technology that enables them to get the most out of the available sunlight, even in cloudy weather. The secret is a film of cadmium telluride sandwiched between two layers of tempered glass. This ensures that the panels reflect as little light as possible, as reflection represents a loss of energy. Thanks to this technology, they are also more resistant to high temperatures.

BACK INTO THE ELECTRICITY GRID

The annual energy output of the 1011 high-tech panels amounts to an impressive 112.5 MWh – more than Diepstraten Tuinbouw needed. The excess is fed back into the electricity grid, enabling the company to partially recover its investment. Peter van Hoek is enthusiastic: “Pon Power has acquired a great first customer for Cat Solar panels, while Diepstraten Tuinbouw can meet the conditions imposed by the municipal authority and partially recover its investment via the energy surplus. As far as we're concerned, it’s a classic win-win situation!” “Great work,” concludes Jan Diepstraten, a man of few words.

FACTS & FIGURES

CLIENT:
Diepstraten Tuinbouw BV, Etten-Leur, The Netherlands

SPECIALIZED FIELD:
Cultivation of soft fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries and blackberries

FACT:
First customer for Cat Solar panels in the Netherlands

PROJECT:
Installation of solar panels on roof of existing shed and roof of new workers’ accommodation

TOTAL INSTALLED SURFACE AREA:
728 m²

ANNUAL ENERGY PRODUCTION:
112.5 MWh