WDP is taking a huge step in its long-term energy transition by installing a gigantic solar park on the roof of the WDPort of Ghent logistics park (Belgium). But this is far from being an isolated project. WDP has a strong track record in PV installation and a well-established strategy to optimise its potential.
Steady progress since 2008
WDP started building its first PV installation 15 years ago. Recognising the vital role of solar power in its long-term energy transition, the company has been growing its operations since then and currently manages up to 107 MWp on the roofs of its warehouses in Belgium, Netherlands, Romania and Luxembourg. An additional 50MWp is currently under construction.
The most significant project to date is the development in WDPort of Ghent – the largest single rooftop solar park in Europe. More than 37,000 solar panels have been installed on the roof of the logistics facility in an unprecedented initiative that will increase the company’s solar energy power capacity by 25% overnight.
This is a big step towards WDP’s 2025 target of 250 megawatt peak, as well as the company’s business and sustainability goals. Ruben Vandam, Sustainability Engineer at WDP, explains how its plans will add value for customers: “…we’re going to expand the energy transition into a fully- fledged business unit to give our customers even more help with their decarbonisation. Solar panels are a crucial link in this. With sustainable projects like this solar park, we want to give potential customers an extra reason to choose us.”
A local supply of green energy
WDP’s plans for energy usage don’t stop at our warehouse facilities. With a total capacity of 25 megawatt peak, the solar park in Ghent has the potential to supply electricity for 8,000 to 9,000 households. The sustainable warehouses themselves require only 10% of the electricity produced and the remaining green energy will be injected into the grid. “We will in fact produce a lot more than we need ourselves”, explains Vandam. “Most of it will go on the market. By doing so, we contribute to the local green electricity supply. It will be possible to switch off the installation on days of overproduction, to avoid negative pressure on the network.”
