Big step towards CO2 neutrality: installation of solar plant on roofs of Hoogtij completed

On 6 November 2023, we kicked off one of our biggest sustainability projects to date: The installation of solar panels on the roofs of our cocoa warehouses Hoogtij in Zandaam in the Netherlands. The mammoth project has now been successfully completed. A total of 2,760 panels are spread over the three roofs with a total area of 4,500m².

The electricity has been fed into the grid since the end of March.

The preparation phase

A project like this would not have been possible without the support of external partners. Thanks to the cooperation with ProfiNRG, one of the largest suppliers of solar panels in the Netherlands, we were able to realise our project. 

Before we could get started, we first had to make sure that all the electrical installations were suitable for connecting the modules. We also had to check the stability of the roof construction. This ensured that the weight of the systems could be supported by the roofs.

The installation and impact of the solar plant

Thanks to precise planning and everyone pulling together, we were able to ensure that normal operations were not affected by the installation. The installation work was then successfully completed on 15 March 2024.

We are certain that the commissioning of the solar plant will have a significant impact on our ecological footprint. Significant reductions in CO2 emissions are to be expected. 

The installation of the solar plant was one of the final measures to make our Hoogtij site 100% CO2-neutral.

Plans for the future

Of course, the journey does not end here.

"I hope that we will also be able to install a solar plant in Amsterdam," reveals Eric Asselman, General Manager of Vollers Holland B.V. "However, as we have rented the warehouses here, the agreement with the landlord is still ongoing.

Something is also happening on our roofs in Antwerp. The installation of around 1,750 solar panels is currently underway here. 

We are happy about every small and large step we can take to do our bit for a better environment.