Factory achieves 90% energy independence with hybrid solution

In the vicinity of a small town No. west da Germany, located on the border with the Netherlands, an asparagus processing factory has abandoned its dependence on diesel and is using clean energy to power its operations.

A hybrid solution, which integrates solar e storage 450 kW containerized power supply, equipped with three all-in-one hybrid inverters ATESS 150kW parallel HPS and ATS (automatic transfer switch).

According to the manufacturer, the factory obtained a gain de 90 % de energy independence with seven hours of reserve power. “We have had this system for a year now and we are very satisfied with it, as we can generate almost all the energy we need through solar,” he said. Alexander Willemsen, owner of the factory.

“We are also doing good for the environment and saving the cost of electricity, which would normally be taken from the electricity grid”, he highlighted.

Since the project installation, the processing equipment and cold chain facilities in the asparagus factory can operate without interruption. Furthermore, all electrical appliances and lighting in the office area, as well as in the dormitories for 80 employees, are powered by the ATESS energy storage system.

“The [asparagus growing] season runs from April to June, which is when we need the most electricity. Therefore, we decided to install a large solar plant”, highlighted Willemsen. “We use 896 500 Wp panels, in addition to a large storage system from ATESS, which serves us day and night.”

“Everything is working great and we just need to make a few small adjustments to the settings to make everything work perfectly. We couldn’t be happier”, concluded the owner.

About the factory

The factory is owned by a fourth generation family business, specializing in harvesting and packaging white and green asparagus. It is located in a remote location that has limited service from the electrical grid.

In 2020 and 2021, the enterprise expanded its asparagus cultivation area from 10 hectares to more than 100 hectares, and built new production halls that allow the handling of 750 thousand kg of white asparagus and 150 thousand kg of green asparagus annually.

Historically, the company relied on diesel generators, which were expensive to operate and inadequate to meet the power needs of the factory, which includes the production facility and sales and administration offices.