P3 and Sunrock overcame the challenges of the Dutch electricity grid during the installation of an 11 km cable to connect their solar project to the national grid. This initiative provides clean energy to over 3,600 households.
An innovative project facing grid challenges
On September 17, 2024, P3, an investor and manager of logistics assets, announced a partnership with Sunrock, a specialist in solar projects. Together, they have conducted a groundbreaking renewable energy project at P3 Echt, a strategic logistics center in the Netherlands. This project stands out not only for the installation of 24,240 solar panels but also for the creation of a unique connection to the national grid.
The Dutch electricity grid is one of the most congested in Europe. The local operator initially refused the connection request due to congestion. However, an innovative solution was found: the installation of an 11 km cable to a available substation. This cable transports the clean energy generated by the solar panels directly into the national grid. It produces up to 12 megawatts of renewable energy per year. This is equivalent to powering more than 3,600 households. Thus, it exceeds current standards.
An exemplary collaboration for sustainable energy
The success of this project is the result of a close collaboration between P3 and Sunrock. Nick Kavelakis, Group P3’s Construction Director, emphasizes: « This project was a challenge because the infrastructure did not originally exist to support such a large solar installation. The successful completion of the 11 km of underground cables is a testament to the spirit of collaboration and the technical expertise of all those involved. »
Sunrock, a leader in solar roofing in Europe, played a key role through the development of energy strategies tailored to logistics assets. According to Sebastiaan Morshuis, Project Developer at Sunrock: « From a business perspective, this project was certainly interesting for us as P3 is an established player in the market. Additionally, this solar roof represents an excellent addition to Sunrock’s portfolio in the Netherlands. The importance for P3 to obtain BREEAM Outstanding certification pushed us to find creative solutions. »
Thanks to this initiative, the P3 Echt logistics center has achieved the grade of « Outstanding », the highest level of BREEAM certification. This result illustrates how solar projects can contribute to the sustainability of infrastructure and help tackle technical obstacles.
A new benchmark for renewable energy
The success of this project could inspire other renewable energy initiatives across Europe. P3 is already planning potential extensions. For instance, the energy produced by the photovoltaic installation could be used to power heavy vehicle charging infrastructure on site. This would reduce dependence on the grid.
Nick Kavelakis concludes: « The fight against climate change is one of the most urgent challenges in the world. At P3, we prioritize sustainability by incorporating proven technologies into our assets and offering energy efficiency solutions to our tenants and our communities. It was crucial for us to rely on a reliable company like Sunrock, especially given our limited presence in the Netherlands at the time. Sunrock met all these requirements and even exceeded our expectations. »
With this achievement, P3 and Sunrock establish a model for future solar projects in congested areas. Their innovative approach demonstrates that, despite obstacles, technical solutions exist to integrate clean energy into existing infrastructure.
Article based on a press release received by the editorial team.
P3 and Sunrock overcame the challenges of the Dutch electricity grid during the installation of an 11 km cable to connect their solar project to the national grid. This initiative provides clean energy to over 3,600 households.
An innovative project facing grid challenges
On September 17, 2024, P3, an investor and manager of logistics assets, announced a partnership with Sunrock, a specialist in solar projects. Together, they have conducted a groundbreaking renewable energy project at P3 Echt, a strategic logistics center in the Netherlands. This project stands out not only for the installation of 24,240 solar panels but also for the creation of a unique connection to the national grid.
The Dutch electricity grid is one of the most congested in Europe. The local operator initially refused the connection request due to congestion. However, an innovative solution was found: the installation of an 11 km cable to a available substation. This cable transports the clean energy generated by the solar panels directly into the national grid. It produces up to 12 megawatts of renewable energy per year. This is equivalent to powering more than 3,600 households. Thus, it exceeds current standards.
An exemplary collaboration for sustainable energy
The success of this project is the result of a close collaboration between P3 and Sunrock. Nick Kavelakis, Group P3’s Construction Director, emphasizes: « This project was a challenge because the infrastructure did not originally exist to support such a large solar installation. The successful completion of the 11 km of underground cables is a testament to the spirit of collaboration and the technical expertise of all those involved. »
Sunrock, a leader in solar roofing in Europe, played a key role through the development of energy strategies tailored to logistics assets. According to Sebastiaan Morshuis, Project Developer at Sunrock: « From a business perspective, this project was certainly interesting for us as P3 is an established player in the market. Additionally, this solar roof represents an excellent addition to Sunrock’s portfolio in the Netherlands. The importance for P3 to obtain BREEAM Outstanding certification pushed us to find creative solutions. »
Thanks to this initiative, the P3 Echt logistics center has achieved the grade of « Outstanding », the highest level of BREEAM certification. This result illustrates how solar projects can contribute to the sustainability of infrastructure and help tackle technical obstacles.
A new benchmark for renewable energy
The success of this project could inspire other renewable energy initiatives across Europe. P3 is already planning potential extensions. For instance, the energy produced by the photovoltaic installation could be used to power heavy vehicle charging infrastructure on site. This would reduce dependence on the grid.
Nick Kavelakis concludes: « The fight against climate change is one of the most urgent challenges in the world. At P3, we prioritize sustainability by incorporating proven technologies into our assets and offering energy efficiency solutions to our tenants and our communities. It was crucial for us to rely on a reliable company like Sunrock, especially given our limited presence in the Netherlands at the time. Sunrock met all these requirements and even exceeded our expectations. »
With this achievement, P3 and Sunrock establish a model for future solar projects in congested areas. Their innovative approach demonstrates that, despite obstacles, technical solutions exist to integrate clean energy into existing infrastructure.
Article based on a press release received by the editorial team.
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