Kwekerij M. Kregting in Bemmel, the Netherlands, has installed 1200 solar panels on their greenhouse That's right, on their greenhouse. The panels are transparent and the solar cells are integrated into the glass. “It may catch some of the light, but we don't need to grow plants in that area. We are now completely self-sufficient in terms of energy and it also looks nice. As far as we are concerned it's an ideal solution.”
At least that's what growers Marcel and Jorg Kregting think. In their 3-ha greenhouse in Bemmel, located in horticultural area NEXTgarden, father and son cultivate a variety of indoor and outdoor plants. They also breed young plants for other growers. “We have four seasons. In winter and summer we breed and in spring and autumn we produce (bedding plants and poinsettias respectively)."
To produce the material for the young plants light and heat are necessary. The grower has its own boiler to heat. And thanks to the solar panels, the grower's energy demand has been met.
A combination of the desire to be sustainable and available subsidies enabled Kregting to make this investment. However, the reason why these specific solar panels were used, integrated into glass, is because it is a relatively simple solution. The existing glass is removed and the custom panels are put in the same slots. Besides, it looks very nice. Furthermore, the grower is the first to use this solution. Kregting: "It is already used for 1-meter glass, but this is new for 112.5 cm."
The installation a few weeks ago
The entire greenhouse roof was refitted incl. ventilation mechanism (logically the panels were only installed facing south). Kregting has also opted for coated tempered glass, "because shading is no longer an option".
For more information:
Kwekerij M. Kregting
Bergerdensestraat 25 C
6681 LK Bemmel
+31 (0)26-3256179
E: marcel@mkregting.nl