From installer to energy director

Our power grid is filling up in more and more places in our country, as more individuals and companies install solar panels, heat pumps and charging stations for electric cars. Over the next few years, the consequences of this will become increasingly evident as a large proportion of industry is required to make its operations more sustainable, renovation houses are required to be off the gas, and new housing estates must also be connected to the electricity grid. Elektropartners is also noticing the consequences of the full energy grid.

"We are approached daily by customers who want to build new or expand their building or production line, but cannot get a large(er) connection for this," says commercial manager Roald de Jong. "But also by companies that have filled their roofs with solar panels, but are not (anymore) allowed to feed back their excess production or have to pay for this. Several customers also want to electrify, but there is too little energy available in the grid to power their heat pumps and electric cars, trucks and/or machines." In all these cases, Elektropartners recommends directing energy needs. "Customers often have two energy sources that feed: grid power and solar power. By cleverly storing these and using them at a later time or selling them to the grid, the desired expansion or sustainability is often indeed possible."

Smart energy management

To achieve this, Elektropartners uses a smart energy management system that perfectly coordinates grid power, solar panels and battery storage. "We build a client's entire plant into a digital twin, including the actual energy values," says De Jong. "We then simulate possible bottlenecks, which we then also solve. For example, by installing (extra) batteries and/or by load balancing heat pumps and EV chargers. Combined with a dynamic energy contract, the investment in such systems can be quickly recouped." According to De Jong, large companies are increasingly turning into energy hubs that generate energy for their own or local use. "For example, companies such as Bejo Zaden and Intratuin Heerhugowaard see the importance of this and are taking the necessary steps. We are very proud to participate in this."

Bejo Seeds Warmenhuizen

Elektropartners has been Bejo Zaden's regular house installer for 45 years. "We have also had the opportunity to realize various projects for this global player," says De Jong. For the new headquarters in Warmenhuizen, Elektropartners carried out the complete electrical installation. From LED and emergency lighting to PV, data, burglar and fire alarm systems, home automation and access control. "The building has been implemented as smartly as possible. For example, with regard to energy consumption. For example, we have realized a smart charging plaza with forty charging stations, where the cars only charge when sufficient solar power is available and energy rates are low. Heat pumps also switch on at the most favorable time, with a load balancing system connecting and tuning all energy sources and consumers. When solar energy is overproduced, a thermal battery is charged, while excess energy is made available back to the grid at a favorable time. And so are numerous other measures that guarantee efficient and smart use of energy."

Intratuin Heerhugowaard

In September, Elektropartners completed a project for Intratuin in Heerhugowaard that included an innovative and smart energy storage system, an advanced charging plaza and a completely renovated catering plaza. "Intratuin Heerhugowaard has a large number of PV panels and an electrical connection that is larger than necessary," says De Jong. "The excess power that is not used would normally be taken back by the grid operator and redistributed. In cooperation with Intratuin Heerhugowaard, we came up with an alternative solution for this, which provides the garden center with much greater returns. For example, thanks to two energy storage systems of 200 kWh each in combination with an AC charging square with twelve 22 kW connections, where customers can charge their cars. Also installed is a 360 kWh fast charger for cars and trucks that - in combination with our intelligent software and based on artificial intelligence, machine learning and AI - can generate additional cash flow. Combined with the ability to trade on the energy market, Intratuin Heerhugowaard is already earning back its investment within three years."

National Holocaust Museum Amsterdam

One project that Elektropartners has been energized by is the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam; the first and only museum to tell the history of the persecution of the Jews throughout the Netherlands. To make the former Hervormde Kweekschool suitable for its new and special function, substantial interventions were necessary. For example, with regard to the electrical installations. The Hollandsche Schouwburg Foundation awarded this important task to Elektropartners, which also realized the E-installations in the Hollandsche Schouwburg. "We consider it an honor that we were allowed to collaborate on this socially important project," says De Jong. "Our technicians were fully included in the story of the museum and carried out their work consciously and with great satisfaction and respect." As an example, he cites the wall, over which hundreds of children were smuggled toward their freedom and which absolutely could not be defaced. "During a family day after completion, our employees and their immediate families were able to see the grateful results of this."