The development of both solar parks started several years ago but the parks were built separately. What they have in common are the grid connection and the owners, Sunvest and Triodos Energy Transition Europe Fund.

Energiepark Duurkenakker (64MWp) is located in the Tussenklappenpolder near Muntendam. It is a huge site of approximately 44 hectares (the equivalent of 88 football fields), and it consists of more than 160,000 solar panels. Yet, sandwiched between a railway embankment and dikes along the Wildervanck canal, the park is barely visible. The park became operational at the end of last year and provides enough power for 20,000 households. Duurkenakker was developed by Sunvest and Solar Proactive. Sunvest and Triodos Energy Transition Europe Fund operate the park together.

Zuidbroek Energie

At the end of 2019, Sunvest and Triodos Energy Transition Europe Fund also took over the Zuidbroek solar project from developer Van der Valk International. Zuidbroek Energie (48 MWp) is 39 hectares in size and will contain approximately 120,000 solar panels. The generation capacity of the park equals the electricity consumption of 15,000 households. Zuidbroek Energie is located along the A7 and next to the Van der Valk hotel. Zuidbroek Energie is due to be built in 2021/2022 as additional grid capacity must first be built in the substation at Meeden.

Rene Hanssen, director at Sunvest: “We are very happy with this result. The development of Energiepark Duurkenakker was particularly complex due to the continuously changing environment with the construction of wind turbines and the nitrogen factory. Another special feature is the large wind turbine located in the middle of the solar park, making efficient use of the location for the generation of sustainable energy.”

Vincent van Haarlem, fund manager of Triodos Energy Transition Europe Fund: “We were able to realise the construction of these leading projects thanks to our good collaboration with Sunvest. With more than 280,000 solar panels, both solar parks add considerably to the generation capacity of more sustainable energy in the Netherlands and are an important contribution to catalysing the much-needed energy transition.”