Solar farm and energy storage project in Weert

Energy storage will play an increasingly important role in the transition to a fully sustainable and clean energy supply. Generation of sustainable energy offers many advantages, but it is unpredictable. Generation peak times can strain the grid if its capacity is too limited. The combination of sustainable energy production and a battery and/or smart control system (smart grids) is a solution. This is what we have done at a new solar farm in Weert.

How does it work?

The solar farm in Weert has 6,500 panels (1.2 megawatts) and is the first in the Netherlands to be combined with a local cooperative battery. It can power 400 households a year. The battery makes locally installed central energy storage cost-effective thanks to three aspects:

Self-sufficiency: As the generated solar energy is consumed locally, less power is taken from the grid, which reduces supply costs.
Energy trading: The battery stores electricity when the price of electricity is low and sells it when the market price is higher. This allows the battery to be used for energy trading at various power exchanges.
Balance maintenance: The battery is made available to the network operators, who are responsible for balancing the electricity grid. The network operators pay a fee for this, which generates extra income from the battery.

The battery reduces the load on the grid. The goal of this project is to create a cooperative storage facility: a platform that enables a positive business case for centralised energy storage for all stakeholders by combining three revenue models (benefit stacking). This project is also a significant step forward in the energy transition.

Scholt Energy algorithms

In cooperation with WeertEnergie, Scholt Energy facilitates the supply of energy to consumers to increase the self-sufficiency of the participants in the cooperative. Scholt Energy's role is to develop algorithms for controlling the battery in order to make these business cases profitable. Software partner Enervalis has set up the link between the battery and the Scholt Energy control platform. This link allows Scholt Energy to align battery control to market prices. We are also cooperating with ECN/SEAC and Soltronergy.

Opening

The festive official opening of the solar farm and energy storage system took place on Friday 31 May 2019. The event was attended by the alderman of the municipality of Weert, and the chairman of WeertEnergie gave visitors information on the project while they enjoyed a piece of Limburg pie.

This project is carried out with a Top Sector Energy Grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs as part of the national Economic Affairs grant scheme.