P3 and Sunrock have overcome the challenges of the Dutch electrical grid during the installation of an 11 km cable to connect their solar project to the national grid. This initiative allows for the provision of clean energy to more than 3,600 households.
An innovative project facing grid challenges
On September 17, 2024, P3, an investor and logistics asset manager, announced a partnership with Sunrock, a specialist in solar projects. Together, they led 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 creating a unique connection to the national grid.
The Dutch electrical grid is one of the most congested in Europe. The local operator initially denied the connection request due to congestion. However, an innovative solution was found: the installation of an 11 km cable to an 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 exceeding current standards.
An exemplary collaboration for sustainable energy
The success of this project is the result of close collaboration between P3 and Sunrock. Nick Kavelakis, Group Construction Director at P3, emphasizes: “This project was a challenge as the infrastructure did not originally exist to support a solar installation of such scale. The successful completion of the 11 kilometers 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: “Commercially, this project was of course interesting for us since P3 is an established player in the market. Furthermore, this solar roof represents an excellent addition to Sunrock’s portfolio in the Netherlands. The importance for P3 to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification pushed us to find creative solutions.”
Thanks to this initiative, P3 Echt’s logistics center achieved the grade of “Outstanding,” the highest level of BREEAM certification. This result illustrates how solar projects can contribute to the sustainability of infrastructures and help address technical obstacles.
A new benchmark for renewable energy
The success of this project could inspire other initiatives of renewable energy across Europe. P3 is already planning potential expansions. For example, the energy produced by the photovoltaic installation could be used to power heavy vehicle charging infrastructure on-site, thus reducing dependence on the grid.
Nick Kavelakis concludes: “Addressing 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 providing energy efficiency solutions to our tenants and 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 saturated areas. Their innovative approach demonstrates that, despite challenges, technical solutions exist to integrate clean energy into existing infrastructures.
Article based on a press release received by the editorial team.
