On the rooftop of the new business and logistics park “The Tube” in Düsseldorf, Sunrock and Frasers Property Industrial successfully installed a powerful photovoltaic system with a total capacity of 6.7 megawatt peak (MWp).
Sunrock has leased the 76,000 square meter roof area for the project and installed approximately 14,600 solar modules. The system generates 6,039 megawatt hours of clean electricity annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by 2,687 tonnes per year. This contributes to the property’s high sustainability standards and enables climate-friendly energy supply for the tenants.
Green Energy Straight from the Roof: Benefits for Tenants
The solar power generated on-site is made available to the tenants of “The Tube” through a Local Power Purchase Agreement (LPPA). This model offers not only ecological but also economic advantages: fixed prices ensure predictable energy costs, while long-term contracts protect against market fluctuations. In addition, the absence of levies and surcharges makes it possible to obtain green electricity at especially attractive rates. On request, Sunrock can also provide tenants with a full green electricity supply.
Project Execution: From Planning to Operation – All from a Single Source
Sunrock was involved early in the property development process and handled all aspects of the PV project. Construction began in autumn 2024, and despite challenging weather conditions, the system was operational after just six months.
During the planning phase, roof statics and grid capacity were assessed, technical infrastructure and metering concepts were developed, and yield and shading analyses were carried out. After securing all necessary permits, the approximately 14,600 solar modules were installed and connected to the grid. A particular technical challenge was the installation of 44 inverters, which had to be precisely aligned with the roof’s structural requirements.
Even during ongoing operation, Sunrock ensures optimal system performance: its professional asset management includes monitoring, maintenance, regulatory compliance, efficiency and performance optimization measures, as well as regular reporting.
A Sustainable Success Story
“We are pleased that our photovoltaic system makes a significant contribution to the sustainability of the property,” says Roderik von Meyenfeldt, Regional Head of Development at Sunrock. “This project demonstrates how photovoltaics can be integrated into modern commercial and logistics properties in a way that makes both economic and ecological sense – with tangible benefits for the owner and tenants. The collaborative partnership with Frasers Property Industrial was a key factor in this success. We look forward to continuing this successful cooperation and realizing further sustainable projects together.”
Alexander Heubes, Managing Director Europe of Frasers Property Industrial, adds:
“The performance of the PV system is remarkable and significantly contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions during the operation of The Tube. Our goal is for all customers to use the solar power produced on site, and in the future, to intelligently store any surplus energy to optimize the efficiency of our energy supply. We thank Sunrock for the excellent collaboration and look forward to continuing it on future joint projects.”
Added value for real estate at one of Europe’s largest solar power rooftop installations at Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte.
In 2023 Sunrock installed a 120,000 m2 photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of the PATRIZIA logistics centre at Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte which has a capacity of 25- Megawattpeak (MWp), enough to meet the annual energy needs of approximately 8,000 households. This project will account for around half of the total solar power output of PATRIZIA’s Dutch logistics real estate portfolio in 2023.
Sustainability ratings
Real estate funds require sustainability ratings and reliable energy data for their real estate portfolio. Buildings that lack this could be depreciated. This installation improves the value of PATRIZIA’s current and yet to be built real estate and helps to increase their sustainability ratings. Therefore, this project is an excellent example of how solar roof installations support real estate owners in their effort to reach their environmental impact goals.
Emile Poort, PATRIZIA Country Head for the Netherlands: “When PATRIZIA acquired the Maasvlakte distribution centre development in 2021 for EUR 230 million, it was the biggest single Dutch logistics real estate deal by area on record. Now in partnership with Sunrock, we have set a new sustainability benchmark with the largest single rooftop solar power installation in the Netherlands, and this is just the start of PATRIZIA’s pan-European renewable energy journey in the logistics sector. The wide rooftop areas and typically large site footprints of ‘big box’ logistics developments are ideal for the installation of PV systems. Our ambitious plans are just the tip of the iceberg, as the fast-expanding European logistics real estate industry rolls out its vast network of renewable energy production hubs, we will make a major contribution to the EU’s carbon-neutral targets and in the existential battle against climate change.”
In Dorsten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Delta Development is establishing a future-oriented logistics center for the denim pioneer and globally renowned clothing company Levi Strauss & Co. Sunrock is contributing to the property’s ambitious sustainability concept. Thanks to Sunrocks’ photovoltaic system, including battery storage and an intelligent energy management system, the building is supplied with climate-neutral energy.
A total of 8,264 solar panels will be installed so that a maximum output of 3.45 megawatt peak (MWp) can be achieved – this roughly corresponds to the needs of almost a thousand households. By generating and using electricity from renewable energy sources, around 1,322 tons of CO2 can be saved annually.
Sunrock’s energy storage system is state-of-the-art and can store excess electricity during sunny months. A state-of-the-art battery system is due to be installed in April 2024. It will enable the generation, use and control of the green electricity produced using smart technology. The system will provide 1,000 kWh of capacity – enough to charge the battery of a Tesla Model S a whopping 13 times.
Edwin Meijerink, CEO of Delta Development: “Our new distribution center is certainly a lighthouse project in Germany and we are very pleased with the work of our partners Delta Development and Sunrock. Thanks to their understanding of the market and the regulatory framework for photovoltaics in Germany, we were able to stablish a long-term and trust based partnership. Together we show that logistics properties like these are gradually becoming the model of the future and thus the standard.”
A project that is the epitome of perseverance and cooperation. Last year we installed a leading solar park on the site of the former FlevoNice ice rink in Biddinghuizen. Together with FlevoNice BV, Batenburg, Aton projects, GDG (Closed Distribution System Green BV), Tennet, ING and the municipality of Dronten, we had a common goal: a supply of green energy for the Netherlands. The result is the creation of a 41,5 MWp of sustainable energy project on a site of 20 hectares. That means the equivalent of 38,000 MWh of solar energy per year, enough to supply 15,000 households. The site is also equipped with a carport with a capacity of 8 MWp of solar panels.
In collaboration
FlevoNice enlisted the help of Aton Projects and Sunrock in completing this huge project. It was achieved thanks to project financing in collaboration with ING. The solar park at FlevoNice is connected to the GDG’s closed distribution system, an initiative of local farmers to connect their windparks in the region via that route, directly to the network of Tennet. This means that the local network of Liander is not overloaded and we are still able to contribute to the energy transition and climate objectives. Local participation is vital to ensuring the realisation of such a large, sustainable energy project.
Energy transition
Intospace’s vision is to give logistics buildings a prominent role in the energy transition. At a time when grid congestion is increasingly becoming a recognised problem, Intospace® wants to provide buildings with smart energy management systems.
Kanaaldijk Project
A prime example is this project located on the Kanaaldijk in Utrecht (NL). The Kanaaldijk distribution centers are energy-positive buildings, generating more energy than they consume. Sunrock developed, built, and now takes care of the operation of the PV system here, while Intospace® has full control over what happens to the power produced and to whom it is supplied.
The project consists of three buildings, which together house 13,892 solar panelswith a total capacity of 6.39 MWp, equating to the electricity needed to supply approximately 2,400 households annually. The sustainable energy generated is directly supplied to the tenants Albert Heijn, HEMA, and Ampère (part of bol.com) at a competitive rate, making their daily operations more sustainable.
The Tenants
Henk Snijders, Head of Logistics at Hema: “At HEMA we strive to have a positive impact on society and the environment. By installing solar panels on our roof and using them in our own distribution center, we provide our daily operations with clean, locally generated energy. We are continuously looking for solutions to become more sustainable.”
Allard Steenbeek, Development Manager & Sustainability Lead at Albert Heijn: “With this solar roof we are one step closer to emission-free supply. This is in line with our sustainability ambitions.”
Wouter Barkman, CEO Ampère (bol.com): “Ampère is a start-up that collects parcels as sustainably as possible. We combine smart technology with sustainable transport. With the construction of this PV installation, we can flexibly use the clean energy we need for our processes and for charging our electric vehicles. In this way we reduce Ampère’s impact and become a little more sustainable.”
Can flexibility be offered to an overcrowded power grid? It is possible with stored energy, in other words the next step in the development of sustainable energy. This sea container in Tilburg is full of batteries where locally produced energy is stored. The result? There is always enough energy, even when the sun isn’t shining. The generated power can also be offered on the trade market, perfect for when you don’t need it yourself.
Sunrock is expanding its European collaboration with Patrizia SE by expanding its operations into the German market, helping to advance Patrizia’s pursuit of its ESG and sustainability objectives.
Three key properties owned by Patrizia, located in Berlin and Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia, have been equipped with photovoltaic (PV) systems by Sunrock, with a combined capacity of 8.1 MWp. Through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), future occupants will be able to access locally generated and clean energy, supporting sustainable operations.
These projects push forward the European collaboration between Sunrock and Patrizia in Germany, forming part of an ambitious portfolio of PV installations kicked off by Sunrock in 2022. With a total volume of 38 MWp, of which 26 MWp are already secured under the agreement, the partnership aims to equip a significant portion of Patrizia’s German portfolio with solar solutions within a four-year timeframe.
Sunrock and Patrizia have previously collaborated on large-scale projects in the Netherlands including the installation of one of Europe’s largest solar roof systems in Rotterdam – boasting an output equivalent to the energy demands of roughly 8,000 households annually. Sunrock and Patrizia are also partnering in France, with new PV projects to be developed in the autumn of 2024.
Hans Vermeeren, Head of Asset Management for DACH at PATRIZIA: “The smart combination of real estate and infrastructure can play a vital role in driving the transition to clean energy, which is one of the major trends shaping our future economies. Equipping our assets with large-scale photovoltaic systems is a key part of our sustainability strategy and ambition to decarbonize our portfolio. We are pleased to expand our partnership with Sunrock to ensure climate-friendly energy generation and long-term value creation for our stakeholders in Germany.”
You can read more about our collaboration with Patrizia here: Sunrock and PATRIZIA expand renewables partnership into Germany
When you are working on building a sustainable digital future, sustainable data centers are one of the first topics to consider. From May 2023, the Amsterdam Iron Mountain Data Center will be supplied with clean energy, generated locally by two of Sunrock’s Dutch solar assets; one in Rotterdam and one in Oud Gastel.
The Sunrock asset in Rotterdam has the capacity to provide Iron Mountain with 4.4 MW of clean energy, and the Oud Gastel asset can provide an additional 1.3 MW annually. Totalling 5.7 MW of clean energy for Iron Mountain, which equals approx. 1,7 tons of CO2 reduction.
A wonderful example of a transition to innovative CO2-neutral solutions facilitated by a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) partnership. Iron Mountain Data Centers are a leading player when it comes to renewable energy, and have the ambition to power all its data centres around the world with carbon-free energy, generated locally in real-time. By partnering with Sunrock, Iron Mountain Data Centers now have access to dedicated clean energy sources, without having to create the space, knowledge or resources themselves.
Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA): prepared for volatility.
A CPPA allows Sunrock to offer direct access to a clean and local source of energy that enables a sustainable business operation and offers long-term price stability. The energy market is unpredictable, but a CPPA offers us a way to protect clients against price volatility and supply fluctuations. In this way, we can meet the growing demand for locally produced green energy and therefore help to achieve many companies’ sustainability targets.
The CPPA establishes a link between a business location and a local solar project, ensuring a stable and direct supply of clean energy. Sunrock aligns with the climate goals of regional and national governments and closely monitors regulatory developments, in order to help our clients anticipate any changes that will affect their business operations.
A great collaboration to realise a licensed, fire safety project, based on an extensive safety program to meet all requirements to install solar on the roof of a warehouse for hazardous substances. With local offtake for green operations and reduced risk as a bonus.