Solar Panels at Pentas: Four Years Later
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Marthijn Koorn
Commercial Director
Over four years ago, on January 22, 2020, Pentas took a significant step towards sustainability. With the support of the Almelose aldermen Maathuis and Van Mierlo, the installation of 1,660 solar panels on the roof of our factory was initiated. In this article, we reflect on the impact of four years of solar energy at Pentas.
Table of contents
Capacity and Impact
The solar panels on our roof have the capacity to generate 0.5 megawatts of energy annually. Over the past four years, this has resulted in a total generation of 2 megawatts. Of this produced energy, we can use approximately 70% ourselves. This percentage is lower than 100% due to the timing of energy production. During sunny days in the spring, we sometimes produce more energy than we need, resulting in a portion being fed back into the grid. Also, on weekends, when our production is idle, we return excess energy.
The energy we use ourselves is primarily employed for rotating the molds, operating the machines, and making dies. These processes consume a significant portion of the generated energy and contribute to the efficient operation of our factory.
Together with Almelose aldermen Maathuis and Van Mierlo, the starting signal was given for the installation of 1,660 solar panels.
Future
For the future, we have ambitious plans to further optimize our energy consumption and enhance our sustainability. We want the heating process of the raw materials to partly proceed via electricity, so we can use the generated solar energy for this purpose. This requires an expansion of the number of solar panels. Last year, we expanded our production hall by 1,200 m², providing sufficient space for additional panels.
In addition, we are exploring the possibilities for energy storage. By storing energy, we can also use the generated solar energy in the evenings. This is a crucial step to further reduce our dependence on the grid and increase our sustainability.
At Pentas, we are proud of the steps we have taken so far and look forward to a future where we can make even more use of sustainable energy sources. Our commitment to sustainability is an ongoing process, and we continue to seek innovative solutions to reduce our ecological footprint.