Sustainability in the harbor (VWG)
25/06/2020 - Source: MLSO
Van Wellen Group owns several buildings in the port area in and around Antwerp, including four buildings in the Waaslandhaven. To contribute to the sustainability of the port, they invested heavily in green energy at the end of 2019.
By means of solar panels, the company can now sometimes generate more green electricity than their customers, although that is not so much the intention. Spread over their sites in the Waaslandhaven, a total of no less than 50.820 m² of solar panels was put into use at the end of 2019, good for a peak of 3000 kilowatts. Specifically, it concerns Keetberg Logistic Center, where Pioneer Europe NV and Yusen Logistics BV are located and where 30.500 m² of solar panels has been installed..
On the roofs of Van Moer Logistics in the Deurganck Logistic Center and on Hazop, there are 10.000 and 3.200 m² of solar panels respectively. Finally, the roof of Waasland Cargo Center, where C. Steinweg Belgium NV operates, is equipped with 7.120 m² of solar panels.
As a result, we achieve a consumption of around 50%, says commercial director of Van Wellen Group Raf Michiels. "The goal of the solar panels is to reduce the operational costs of our users in the long term. That investment, of about 3 million euros on the Left Bank alone, includes not only the solar panels but also the renewal of certain high-voltage cabins. This way we keep our infrastructure up to date and as profitable as possible for our operators. A few years ago we were ready to install solar panels, but the capacity of the high-voltage grid was not yet sufficient".
Another good thing for the return is that a large part of the panels are oriented east-west, while solar panels are more often oriented to the south. For example, early in the morning, the sun will shine on the panels faster and electricity can also be generated through sunlight until late at night. The advantage of this is that production is spread more over the whole day. This way the amount of electricity that has to be put back into the grid is kept to a minimum.
