Customized control system ensures efficient energy consumption

On the Boekelermeer business park in Alkmaar, supplier of climate and energy solutions Solar Nederland expanded its distribution center. As a construction team partner, Elektropartners provided the electrical installation for the expansion. 

Among other things, the additional space will allow Solar Netherlands to increase its automated storage and order picking system to 65,000 bins. In addition, the company is implementing several automated systems for cable storage. In addition to greater efficiency, Solar Nederland is also achieving other, important gains with this: with the autostore system, far fewer boxes and padding materials are used.

The preparations started in January 2023 and eight months later the new part of the distribution center was already completed. Commercial manager Roald de Jong of Elektropartners: "In terms of planning, that was quite a puzzle. Especially because the client wanted 'early access'. They were already furnishing the building while we were still installing."

'Everything is measured'

In doing so, work in the rest of the distribution center continued as usual during construction. To minimize inconvenience, the existing main distributor was replaced on a weekend during the construction period. This was necessary to achieve the required power to connect all facilities. Project manager Dennis Koopmans: "That period was the quietest for Solar Netherlands. We were given 48 hours for this job and worked in shifts to get it done in this short time. The distributor, which was supplied by Solar Nederland itself, is full of the latest technology. Everything is metered: for each group, the client now knows exactly how much power is being consumed at any given moment, so they can adjust accordingly. There is also a busbar running to the back of the hall to be able to update the old installation later as well."

A loading bunker for forklifts will be added to the building at a later date. In it, the pallet trucks and forklifts will be loaded as optimally as possible with solar energy. There are some 1,260 solar panels on the roof of the building. There will also be a battery to buffer power for the charging plaza for electric cars.

Interest of staff is paramount

Solar Netherlands considers it important to provide its employees with a pleasant working environment. De Jong: "This company looks first at the importance of the staff and only then at the costs. The installation was customized by us from that starting point. For example, they wanted a bright, fresh and well-lit distribution hall. The new section is therefore equipped with DALI-controlled LED lighting. Based on motion detectors and the amount of daylight, the lighting in the hall is dimmed and switched. This is also a sustainable solution."

In addition to the standard electrical installation in the distribution hall, including emergency lighting and electrical outlets, Elektropartners also provides the site installation. "We equipped the grounds with camera security, wifi and animal-friendly lighting. This is also part of Solar Netherlands' philosophy. Behind the building, for example, we also sowed an earthen embankment with flowers and plants to promote insect life," Koopmans said. "Because the company wants to minimize its impact on the environment, ecological research was also done on the construction site before construction."

Lots of attention from client

The short construction time required a tight schedule and good cooperation between all parties involved. "From the client, there was a lot of attention to this project. Property manager Arjan Veldman was always present at the construction site and became the connecting link. So we had short lines of communication and we experienced that as very pleasant. "The two look back on the project with satisfaction. Koopmans: "After a short preparation time of one and a half to two months, it is quite an achievement to complete such a project in six months."