The cold storage facilities of Dutch Flower Group (DFG) in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands, home to e-Flora, have recently become a lot more sustainable. DAEL Energy from Maasdijk designed and installed a tailor-made "smart" solar PV system here. By joining forces, the two companies examined DFG's energy use in detail and created a plan to make the site fit for the future.
© DAEL Energy
Remy van der Meulen (Project Leader at DAEL Energy) and Abdel Boutzaourakht (Technical Service at DFG)
Smart tools that match the actual need
DAEL Energy began by analyzing the site's power consumption, mapping out usage patterns with the help of smart monitoring tools. This data revealed exactly what kind of solar panel setup would perfectly match DFG's energy needs. Efficiency and sustainability were top priorities, which led to the installation of almost 800 solar panels in total.
Because the site is not allowed to feed surplus electricity back into the grid, the system automatically switches off panels whenever production exceeds demand. Thanks to a clever monitoring system, this happens without anyone having to lift a finger.
Clear insight through a real-time dashboard
Both DFG and DAEL Energy have access to an online dashboard that displays live data on energy consumption and solar power production. This smart system makes it possible to continuously optimise performance, and quickly respond to any irregularities or opportunities.
© DAEL Energy
Smooth teamwork, green results
Installing the solar panels at e-Flora ties in perfectly with Dutch Flower Group's IMPACT2030 sustainability strategy. Thanks to this investment, e-Flora can now operate almost entirely energy-neutral.
Linda Boekestein, Project Manager at DFG, says: "Our collaboration with DAEL Energy went really smoothly, with short communication lines and direct contact with our project leads. Together, we're already looking at the next steps to make our companies and locations even more sustainable."
Jan de Wilde, Operations Manager at DAEL Energy, adds: "We look back on a great collaboration with DFG, where trust and efficiency were key. In a short period, we delivered a smart installation that not only perfectly matches the site's usage pattern, but was also completed right on schedule."
For more information:
Jan de Wilde
DAEL Energy 
+31 (0)88 203 23 34
[email protected]
www.dael.com
Marcel Zandvliet
Dutch Flower Group 
+31 (0)297-389389
[email protected]
https://dfg.nl/nl/
