On Saturday 11 October, a group of interested parties came to take a look at the construction of the Ballumerbocht Energy Park. Led by Erwin de Boer (energy advisor for the municipality of Ameland), they took a tour of the site and got an idea of what is involved in such a project.
Features of the Energy Park
During the tour, Erwin talked about the number of solar panels that will soon be generating electricity and the east-west orientation, which ensures an even distribution of generation throughout the day. The partners Amelander Energie Coöperatie and Wetterskip Fryslân were also discussed, who, together with the municipality of Ameland, are making this project possible.
Smart consumption and storage
It was explained how part of the solar power will soon be consumed directly by the water treatment plant. Attention was also paid to the cables and boxes that bring the power from multiple panels together to the large inverter. A battery will also be added in the future, so that surplus solar power can be stored and used when needed. This is a great step towards a smart and flexible energy system.
Caring for nature
It wasn’t just the technology that was discussed: measures to integrate the park into the environment in a natural way were also addressed. For example, toad pools and nesting boxes have been installed for barn owls, bats and house sparrows.
New function for landfill site
What makes this project unique is that the solar park is being built on a former landfill site. This gives the site a new lease of life, with dual use of the space: the land remains sealed, but now provides clean energy for the future.
