Sunrock has installed a 120,000 sqm photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of the Maasvlakte logistics development, capable of producing 25 Megawatt peak (MWp) a year of clean energy, which is sufficient to meet the annual energy needs of 8,000 households.
The Sunrock and PATRIZIA solar energy partnership has the ambition to double the current 53 megawatt (MW) installed PV capacity across PATRIZIA’s 1.2 million sqm European logistics portfolio, which is now mainly concentrated in the Netherlands, as well as in Germany, France and Belgium. That expansion would bring PATRIZIA’s total solar power capacity to over 100 Megawattpeak (MWp), which is sufficient to power around 37,000 households
Emile Poort, PATRIZIA Country Head for the Netherlands,said, “When PATRIZIA acquired the Maasvlakte distribution centre development in 2021 for EUR 230 million, it was the biggest single Dutch logistics real estate deal by area on record. Now in our partnership with Sunrock, we have set a new sustainability benchmark with the largest single rooftop solar power installation in the Netherlands, and this is just the start of PATRIZIA’s pan-European renewable energy journey in the logistics sector.
"The wide rooftop areas and typically large site footprints of ‘big box’ logistics developments are ideal for the installation of PV systems. Our ambitious plans are just the tip of the iceberg, as the fast-expanding European logistics real estate industry rolls out its vast network of renewable energy production hubs, which will make a major contribution to the EU’s carbon-neutral targets and in the existential battle against climate change.”
Rooftop PV systems have a key role to play in the energy transition, particularly in densely populated countries such as the Netherlands where development space is at a premium, and therefore, public and political support is higher. Additionally, these installations usually don’t require lengthy permit procedures.
A research study from the ENSPRESO Joint Research Centre of the European Commission concluded that there is the potential to install 570 Gigawatt peak (GWp) on the rooftops of large logistic real estate properties across Europe, which is estimated to be enough capacity to power 150 million households in Europe.
Total net electricity generation in the EU in 2021 was 2,785 Terrawatthours (TWh), of which 32.8% was produced from renewable sources, including wind (13.7%), hydro (13.3%) and solar (5.8%), according to Eurostat.
Johannes Duijzer, CEO of Sunrock, said, “We are rapidly expanding into Europe developing rooftop solar PV projects with our real estate partners. We bring the expertise from the Dutch market and gain traction in Germany, France, Belgium and the UK. Our partnership with PATRIZIA is instrumental in expanding our international reach across European markets.
"Solar power is the cheapest and most reliable form of energy which drives the transition to a clean energy future. Our rooftop solar PV projects are noncontroversial and add to the quality of the underlying real estate. Furthermore it offers tenants better service and helps PATRIZIA reach their impact goals.“
