More good news as installation is free for any dairy farm with a roof surface exceeding 1,000 square metres. The Monitoring, financing, connection, maintenance and guarantees involved are also free.
The aim is to eventually install close to half a million solar panels across the FrieslandCampina member farming world, with plans to become completely self sufficient. A subsidy of over €200 million was granted by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs to oversee the installation of the panels on roofs of FrieslandCampina co-op member dairy farms. They hope to cover over 300 dairy farms across the region.
The electricity gained from the panels will not only supply the farms involved but also more than 20% of energy needed for factories and offices of FrieslandCampina in the region. The energy produced would be enough to power over 33,000 houses.
The aim of the company, FrieslandCampina, is to become completely self sufficient and eventually cover the entirety of the company’s energy needs, through these ‘green’ farms. They aim to complete their goal by 2020.
The company will also offer bonuses to farmers for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The bonus is set at €10 for each ton of reduced emissions. In total so far the company have over 1,600 member farms with solar panels already fitted.
Hundreds of farmers have already voiced their interest in partaking in this second round of panel fitting.
Source: THAT’S FARMING
Link: http://www.thatsfarming.com/news/dutch-dairy-solar-farms
