For Eva and Doeke from the brewery, sustainable business is a matter of course.
Brewing beer consumes a lot of energy, and that is why they are constantly looking at how they can use electricity more intelligently. With solar panels and a battery, they make optimal use of their own generated power.
Solar panels on the shed
When a new shed was built in 2018, Eva and Doeke already took solar panels into account.
“The roof was made extra sturdy at the time so that panels could be placed on it later.”
There are now 114 solar panels on the roof of the shed. Deliberately not on the characteristic farmhouse. “Due to the east-west orientation of the roof of the shed, we generate electricity spread throughout the entire day. Moreover, the appearance of the farmhouse is preserved.” ## No net metering, but a solution ##
When the plans for the solar panels were made, Eva still assumed that the brewery could make use of net metering and feed-in. That turned out to be impossible due to their large-scale connection.
“I was really annoyed by that.
During the day, we generated more electricity than we needed, while at night we had to buy electricity from the grid. That didn’t feel logical.”
It was precisely because of this that the idea for a battery arose.
From generation to storage
Eva and Doeke were already used to turning on appliances as much as possible during the day when the sun was shining. Yet, there was electricity left over. Through friends who specialize in batteries and smart energy systems, they found a solution that suited the brewery’s energy consumption. “During the day, we charge the battery with solar power. We then use it in the evening and at night for cooling the fermentation tanks and the beers. This way, we utilize much more of our own energy.
From about mid-February, the brewery can run almost entirely on its own solar power.”
In the winter, the battery is used differently. “Then we charge it at night with cheaper power from the grid, so that we can use it during the day.”
Prepared for the future
Meanwhile, the brewery is already looking at the next step. Eva discovered that solar panels and a battery do not automatically mean that you can keep running during a power outage.
I actually found that quite strange. The sun is shining, the solar panels generate power, and we have a battery, yet our installations still come to a standstill.”
That is why work is being done on a system that will allow the brewery to temporarily continue running on its own power in the event of an outage. “This way, we become less and less dependent on the whims of the electricity grid.”
Just get started
According to Eva, with the disappearance of the net metering scheme, it is becoming increasingly important to use electricity at the moment you generate it. “Turn on appliances when the sun is shining and adjust your consumption accordingly. A battery can help with this, but you can often achieve a lot even without a battery.”
Moreover, according to her, sustainability is about more than just payback periods.
Of course, you look at costs and revenues, but ultimately it is also an investment in the future. Sometimes you just have to say: we are going to do this.”