PowerField and Solarcentury have begun construction of a 110 MW solar power plant in the Netherlands, one of the largest being planned in the country. Both the companies will develop the project for asset manager Impax.
PowerField initiated the project working on its development since 2016. UK based Solarcentury will construct and maintain the project with final operational deadline being H2/2020. Close to 350,000 solar panels will be deployed on 100-hectare land in Vlagtwedde, Westerwolde and on completion, it is expected to generate 104,000 MWh annually.
Being developed as an agrivoltaic project, the Vlagtwedde Solar Farm will have a blueberry farm adjacent to it spread on 24-hectares of land. According to the companies, the blueberry farm ensures proper integration of the solar farm within the surrounding landscape and provides employment opportunities to the local population in addition to the solar farm.
"With 110 MW this is the largest concrete solar park in the Netherlands. 20 hectares of blueberries have been planted for the landscape integration of the solar park and employment in the municipality of Westerwolde," said PowerField CFO Jean Louis Bertholet. "The size of the blueberry cultivation in combination with the solar park makes this a unique project. Soon, more than 30,000 households will be supplied with green electricity every year and more than 180,000 kilos of blueberries will be grown. A great example of how the generation of sustainable energy and landscape integration go together."
An August 2019 Oregon State University study found solar PV panels and agriculture complementing each other calling croplands, grasslands and wetlands best to promote agrivoltaics (see Farmlands Most Productive For Solar Panels, Claims Study).
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