Stack battery system installed for tomato grower

Next to the greenhouses of tomato grower Roots in Honselersdijk, a battery system was installed last week. During an open afternoon on Thursday, visitors could see how the project is being built. At that moment, construction was halfway complete. In total, assembling the 5 MWh system takes 4 days.

What's special is that this is a stack battery system, where battery packs are clicked together like "Lego blocks" to form one large system. According to Aquasol Solar, the project at Roots is the first in the Netherlands on such a large scale.

The battery modules are ready in boxes to be assembled further.

© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.com
The battery modules in boxes are ready to continue building.

Quiet
During the horticultural trade fair HortiContact, the project was officially sold. Grower Stefan Oussoren came to Gorinchem to shake hands with Atakan Bilecen from battery supplier Sigenergy. Last autumn, Stefan participated in the Energy Roadshow organized by Aquasol Solar. There, he saw the stack battery system for the first time at a fellow grower. What stood out to him was how quiet the battery was. That appealed to him, he explains on Thursday afternoon while colleagues and other interested visitors gather around the system under construction with a cup of coffee.

© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.com
Hans van Luijk (Aquasol Solar) explains to visitors who stopped by for a battery visit between 3:00 and 4:30 PM.

Specialists from Aquasol Solar, Sigenergy, and Samax are present to answer questions, including Hans van Luijk. While listing the advantages, he also highlights how silent the system is. "Look, there's the fan. It's as quiet as a laptop." Nearby are the inverters, positioned next to where a new transformer station will be installed. "The advantage of these inverters is that they can easily be combined with solar panels. Only one AC connection is needed."

© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.com
Each battery module has its own quiet fan.

A new energy asset for trading

k. Roots wants to start using the battery system as soon as possible. Smart trading on the energy market can generate significant income. Moreover, greenhouse horticulture, with its range of energy assets, contributes to balancing the electricity grid.

For Roots, the battery system is a new asset in addition to the solar panels, lighting, and CHP units already in place in Honselersdijk. Samax assists the grower with energy management. The company sees that more and more greenhouse clients are adopting battery systems. Director Pascal Lakerveld estimates that about 10% of growers already have one, with more to follow this year.

© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.com
The inverters. Behind the concrete wall, a new transformer station will be placed.

IP66

During the Energy Roadshow, Stefan saw the battery system outdoors in cold, harsh conditions. The contrast with Thursday afternoon couldn't be greater: the sun is shining, and it's pleasant next to the tomato greenhouses on Zwethlaan.

Growers in the area share space with residents, so it's especially important for Roots that the system is quiet. Visitors are surprised that the system can simply stand outside. It has an IP66 rating—a high international protection standard for electronics—meaning it can safely operate outdoors in the rain.

The batteries are clicked together as if they were Lego. A crane on the construction site lifts them onto the system in sets of three.

Lego

The 5 MWh stack battery does take up some space, but there is room next to the greenhouses. At the insurer's request, the adjacent basin wall has been covered with tiles. A fence will also be installed around the battery system, says Hans van Luijk, along with crash protection—a guardrail—to prevent passing forklifts from hitting the batteries while transporting crop waste.

After gathering information, having coffee, and catching up with acquaintances, the growers of Roots, or specialists from Aquasol Solar, Sigenergy, or Samax, the visit wrapped up around 4:30 PM. Visitors went home with a small box of Lego, allowing them to build a miniature battery system themselves.