Dairy firm FrieslandCampina has launched its scheme to install solar panels on the roofs of its members' dairy farms in the Netherlands.
The programme was first announced in August, but last week saw the first solar panels installed at the Eishof dairy farm in Oldetrijne.
Overall, the group aims to deliver 416,000 solar panels to 310 dairy farms, which will generate 115 GWh of green electricity annually. This is equal to the electricity for 33,000 households, or 20% of the company's total electricity use.
Long-Term Commitment
“The ambition of FrieslandCampina is to generate sufficient green electricity at the farm yards of our member farmers to fully cover the use of electricity," said Roelof Joosten, CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina.
"With this we will contribute to the reduction objective for the year 2020 as agreed within the dairy sector.”
Henk Kamp, the country's Minister of Economic Affairs, recently provided funding of €200 million for the installation of solar panels on the roofs of FrieslandCampina dairy farms. The company has established a ‘roof-rent’ solution, where each farmer will receive a payment per panel.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Francesca Volpe. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
