Collaboration between Scholt Energy and the VDL Group goes back more than eleven years.
Electricity supply for VDL
Scholt Energy has been the trusted supplier of electricity for VDL for a number of years. The partnership with VDL Weweler of Apeldoorn, the first VDL Group company to purchase electricity from Scholt, began in 2013. This was followed by several VDL companies and, since 2018, Scholt Energy has been supplying electricity to the VDL Group in the Netherlands. Scholt purchases electricity directly from both the futures and day-ahead markets using a smart purchasing strategy that closely matches VDL’s specific electricity needs.
V-Storage energy storage system
The joint V-Storage company was incorporated seven years ago. On 24 April 2017, V-Storage’s battery system was commissioned at VDL ETG’s site in Eindhoven. In addition to charging and discharging at convenient times, the battery is also used to help balance the electricity grid. In 2017, it was the first battery system in the Netherlands to supply ‘balancing energy’ to grid administrator TenneT. Thanks in part to V-Storage, Scholt Energy has gained considerable knowledge and experience of energy storage over recent years, and has continued to develop it.
Sustainable demand management of industrial salt bath
Since 2021, Scholt Energy has deployed a thermal salt bath from VDL Weweler as emergency power for the electricity grid in the Netherlands. At the Apeldoorn site, the salt bath is used for metal working. The adjustable power of this industrial process is comparable to the energy demand of around 1,000 households. When supply and demand on the electricity grid are at risk of becoming out of balance, there is a control signal. Through automation, Scholt Energy then forces the salt bath to consume more (if there is a surplus) or less (if there is a deficit) electricity without disrupting the process. By applying demand management, there is more flexibility to integrate weather-dependent sources of energy, such as solar and wind, into the electricity grid.
Flexibility services
As renewables grow and grid capacity becomes more limited, energy supply and demand are growing increasingly farther apart. Flexibility is the use of processes and systems that better balance the supply of and demand for electricity. The V-Storage battery system and the thermal salt bath at VDL Weweler are great examples of how flexibility can be used. For this, Scholt Energy provides Energy storage and Demand response flexibility services.
Mike Oomen, Head of Purchasing at the VDL Group: ‘The combination of electricity supply as well as comprehensive flexibility and sustainability services is unique amongst energy partners. We are enjoying fantastic results with the purchasing strategy and getting additional revenue from the battery and salt bath, which also contribute to a sustainable future. The excellent service and extensive knowledge and experience make working with Scholt Energy extremely pleasant.’
Sustainable vision
Scholt Energy and the VDL Group are committed to a sustainable future and extending the partnership fits with that sustainable vision. Jointly, the duo are exploring further opportunities to purchase renewable electricity through a CPPA, which allows VDL to purchase renewable energy from a wind or solar farm for a longer period of time. The agreement gives both the customer and the producer a fixed price for renewable electricity. Furthermore, opportunities for use of ‘second life’ batteries from buses are also being explored.
Michiel van der Steen, Sales Development Manager Renewables & Flexibility at Scholt Energy: ‘We are proud to be able to continue our partnership with the VDL Group. It is a nice family business that it is the perfect match in terms of cooperation, ambitions for sustainability and innovation.’
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