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Energy Manager: Job of the future in horticulture?

A few years ago nobody had even heard of an energy manager, but now nobody seems to be without one. In this energy-conscious society, larger growers can hardly do without energy management, but even for smaller ones delegating the job to a specialist isn’t such a bad idea. Dutchman Corné van Steekelenburg fills this seat at Samax. For four Dutch tomato companies he keeps energy consumption under control. “By being vigilant you can accomplish a lot.”


Corné van Steekelenburg, energy manager at Samax 
 
From his office at nursery Rimato in Honselerdijk, Corné van Steekelenburg keeps a trained eye on fluctuating energy markets. With that information, he facilitates four companies under the Samax umbrella: Rimato, Leerdam & van Marrewijk, Zwinkels and Zn. and the Van der Lans Bros. "The crop comes first,” he says, “but we try to move within the margins we have. That doesn’t always work out the way you expect. That it would still freeze in the Netherlands in April, was not something we could have foreseen. We plan ahead, but you remain at the mercy of unexpected circumstances."

Van Steekelenburg consults weekly with the four growers. “We discuss how they are doing and what the strategy is for the following week. They are involved in everything. Energy management really influences the development of crops. The growers themselves make clear what their needs are, and I act accordingly.” He notes that there is a growing interest in his job, also from outside the sector. "People are curious. It’s an occupation I can see becoming more and more important. There’s still ample room for expansion. Right now we would like to add some plant and flower growers to our network. They have a unique perspective on energy, so we can learn a lot from each other.”

 
 
For more information:
Corné van Steekelenburg
Samax
06- 52 61 75 08

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