Energy park Duurkenakker

Zuidbroek, Netherlandssunvest.nl/
Asset ClassesPrivate equity
Impact strategyEnergy and Climate
SectorSustainable Energy
Capacity (in MW)62
Aligned with SDGs

Sunvest and Triodos Energy Transition Europe Fund jointly own two large solar parks in the Dutch province of Groningen. Together the parks are the largest solar park in the Netherlands. Energiepark Duurkenakker is a huge site of approximately 44 hectares (the equivalent of 88 football fields), and it consists of more than 160,000 solar panels. Yet, sandwiched between a railway embankment and dikes along the Wildervanck canal, the park is barely visible. The residents of Duurkenakker village were involved by the developer in the design for the landscape integration.

Solar park Zuidbroek Energie is 39 hectares in size and contains approximately 120,000 solar panels. The park is due to be built in 2021/2022, as additional grid capacity must first be built in the local substation. As part of the permit procedure, a landscape integration plan has been drawn. A nature strip has been planned along the edges of the solar park, especially on the side along the highway, from where the solar park is best visible. Iconic landscape elements such as the row of trees along the motorway and the wide ditches in the area have been respected and connected to them.