bekuplast sets standards with new photovoltaic system
bekuplast commissions one of the largest rooftop photovoltaic systems in the region.
bekuplast has invested in a new photovoltaic system that sets new standards. With a total output of 2,235 kWp, it is one of the largest rooftop systems in the county of Bentheim and the neighbouring Emsland region. The plant will generate around 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. As a result, bekuplast will reduce its CO2 emissions by around 850 tonnes. With the amount of electricity generated, an electric car could theoretically circle the globe 333 times.
The new photovoltaic system was realised in collaboration with EMT2 from Lünne. "A system of this size is not an everyday occurrence for us either and is a special project," says Stefan Völlink, Managing Director of EMT2. With a total weight of around 152 tonnes, the installation was a challenge for the energy system manufacturer in terms of statics and construction.
The new photovoltaic system was installed on bekuplast's warehouses, covering an area of 18,490 square metres. It consists of a total of 5,451 solar modules mounted on the roofs. Optimising the orientation and inclination of the modules ensures maximum solar radiation to enable efficient power generation. The energy generated is fed directly into the grid and used for the production of reusable plastic products. The new photovoltaic system enables bekuplast to cover part of its electricity requirements.
The decision to invest in renewable energy is a building block of bekuplast's sustainability strategy. The family business is actively working to reduce its ecological footprint. "The installation of the photovoltaic system is an important milestone for us on the road to even greater sustainability," explains Christian Roelofs, Managing Partner of bekuplast. At the same time, this investment is an important signal for the Ringe site. "The energy crisis and soaring electricity prices last year have clearly shown that reducing dependencies in the energy sector is urgently needed in order to secure the Ringe site and the 350 or so jobs in the region in the long term," says Christian Roelofs.
The plastics processing company has been focussing on energy-efficient and resource-saving production processes for many years. For example, the waste heat generated during production is utilised for heating and air conditioning. In addition, the machinery is continuously being upgraded to ever more energy-efficient injection moulding machines in order to reduce energy consumption. Recycling also plays an important role. bekuplast currently uses around 35% recycled material in the manufacture of its reusable products and the trend is rising. This development is only slowed down by the limited availability of recycled materials on the market.
The future challenges for energy-intensive industrial companies are great. bekuplast is nevertheless optimistic and is already planning further investments with the aim of being able to cover its entire energy requirements from renewable sources in the medium term.
From left to right: Werner Rakers, Stefan Völlink from EMT2, Christian Roelofs and Norbert Michalik officially commission the new photovoltaic system.
