Solarcentury, Impax and PowerField to start construction of Vlagtwedde, the largest solar farm in the Netherlands

Impax, the specialist asset manager investing in the transition to a more sustainable global economy, and Solarcentury, the global integrated solar power company, have signed a construction and maintenance agreement for what will become the largest solar project in the Netherlands: Vlagtwedde solar farm, which is located in the municipality Westerwolde. The solar farm has been well received locally as the project has been carried out in cooperation with the local people and the municipality authorities.

19 September 2019, Vlagtwedde, the Netherlands. The project was initiated by PowerField and co-developed by PowerField and Solarcentury. Solarcentury will construct and maintain the project for the final owner and investor Impax. The 110 MW solar farm is set to become one of the largest solar projects in The Netherlands and is planned to be operational during the second half of 2020.

The 110 MW solar farm will be made up of almost 350,000 panels and will cover an area of 100 hectares. In total, the solar farm will have an expected annual yield of 104,000 MWh. This is enough power generation for approximately 30,000 households.

The local residents and energy cooperative are united in supporting the transition to solar energy. Adjacent to the solar farm, a blueberry farm has been developed which covers a further 24 hectares. The blueberry farm ensures proper integration of the solar farm within the surrounding landscape and provides employment opportunities to the local population in addition to the solar farm.

Hector Boyce, Impax & Director of Zonnepark Vlagtwedde said:

“We are excited to be making our first investment in the Netherlands. Not only is this investment supporting the Netherlands’s transition away from fossil fuels to renewable sources through the creation of the country’s largest solar farm, it is also creating employment opportunities and supporting biodiversity in the local area. The project has been developed in close cooperation with local parties, and we look forward to making further investments in the Netherlands.”

Evert Vlaswinkel, Solarcentury Benelux General Manager added:

“With solar becoming an increasingly popular way to generate power in the Netherlands, we are thrilled to announce that we have started construction on the 110 MW Vlagtwedde solar farm. This project highlights the potential of solar energy to tackle the climate emergency and we are proud to lead a project that will significantly contribute to the transition to renewable energy sources away from fossil fuels. Once completed, this solar park will generate 104,000 MWh annually and save more than 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ over the course of its lifetime.”

 Jean Louis Bertholet, Chief Financial Officer, PowerField said:

 “We have been working on the development of Solar Park Vlagtwedde since 2016. With 110MW this is the largest concrete solar park in the Netherlands. 20 hectares of blueberries have been planted for the landscape integration of the solar park and employment in the municipality of Westerwolde. The size of the blueberry cultivation in combination with the solar park makes this a unique project. Soon, more than 30,000 households will be supplied with green electricity every year and more than 180,000 kilos of blueberries will be grown. A great example of how the generation of sustainable energy and landscape integration go together.”

About Impax

Founded in 1998, Impax is a specialist asset manager, with approximately  UK£ 14.7 billion/ US$ 17.8 billion (as of 31 August 2019) in both listed and real asset strategies, investing in the opportunities arising from the transition to a more sustainable global economy. We believe that capital markets will be shaped profoundly by global sustainability challenges, including climate change, pollution and essential investments in human capital, infrastructure and resource efficiency. These trends will drive growth for well- positioned companies and create risks for those unable or unwilling to adapt. We seek to invest in higher quality companies with strong business models that demonstrate sound management of risk. Impax offers a well-rounded suite of investment solutions spanning multiple asset classes seeking superior riskadjusted returns over the medium to long term. www.impaxam.com

About PowerField

Since 2012, the Dutch company PowerField has been developing and realizing land-based solar parks, for its own account and risk. PowerField has two office locations, in Wormer and Groningen. Based on the sustainability objectives of the Dutch government, PowerField has developed a concept in which plots of land are purchased (or rented), on which large solar parks are realized. The aim is to use large amounts of wasteland, temporarily or otherwise, as optimally as possible for the production of sustainable (solar) energy.

Sustainability, but also support and involvement play an important role in the realization of a solar park. That is why every project is carefully prepared and in good consultation with the relevant landowners, government organizations and local residents.

PowerField is also the proud sponsor of the Vattenfall Solar Team. A team of students from the Technical University in Delft participating in a 3000 km race from Darwin to Adelaide in Australia. And this in a car that is 100% powered by solar energy. Find more information on the company at www.PowerField.nl