NLOn the road to becoming fossil-free, indispensable to the grid: this is how Globe Plant does it
Greenhouse horticulture is moving towards becoming fossil-free, whilst at the same time being indispensable to the flexibility of the energy system. Globe Plant combines these two aspects. The CHP units and heat buffers remain the foundation. A 1.6 MW battery now makes the system even more flexible and prepares it for a future with less gas.
Enova manages the whole operation, with crop production as the hard limit. The result: the battery is expected to pay for itself within four years.
For a grower, energy is one of the biggest cost items, and electricity and gas prices fluctuate significantly. Those who can adapt flexibly can turn those fluctuations into profit. At Globe Plant, this happens every day.
Energy managers Kay Geurts and Rob Verbeij from Enova deploy the battery, CHP units and electric boiler on the energy markets, within the constraints of crop production and the connection.
About Globe Plant
Globe Plant has been growing vegetable plants from seed for growers at home and abroad since 1961, as well as a small proportion of ornamental plants. The family-run business moved from the Westland to Vierpolders on Voorne-Putten in 1999. Following two expansions and the opening of a second site in Brielle (2022), the nursery now has 11.4 hectares of growing area.
"The plant always comes first. The plant’s needs determine how we operate our facilities."
The plant always comes first.
‘We are continuing with the electrification of our fleet, but of course we also want to maintain sufficient control over costs. Electric lorries are considerably more expensive to buy than diesel lorries, but if you can secure a good electricity price, you’ll recoup some of that cost with every kilometre driven,’ says Post.
The challenge extends beyond just the price of electricity. More electric lorries and charging points also mean greater demand for power, more instances where energy needs to be purchased and, ultimately, a greater strain on the available grid connection. To get help with this, Post contacted battery manufacturer Battiq. “They also put us in touch with Enova, a specialist in integrated energy management. We sat down together and this resulted in the purchase of a battery with a storage capacity of 2 MWh and a power output of 1 MW,” explains Post. “The calculations showed that we would achieve a payback period of around four years, which is better than we had initially thought.”
The energy system
Brielle
- 2.4 MW CHP unit
- 1.2 MW electric boiler
- 1.6 MW / 3.2 MWh battery, supplied by Zwart Techniek
- 5,000 m³ heat storage tank
- LED lighting
Vierpolders
- Geothermal energy
- 1.6 MW CHP unit
- 1.2 MW electric boiler
- 5,000 m³ heat storage tank
- LED lighting
- Solar panels
"We were looking for a partner who really understands how our business operates, as they will be responsible for managing everything in an integrated way."
Two requirements: within the connection, and the right partner
“It quickly became clear that a battery could offer us greater flexibility and lower costs,” says Van de Westelaken. “But we had to stay within our existing 2.4 MW connection limit. And we wanted a partner who really understands our business operations, because they will be managing everything holistically.” Together with installer Enthoven Techniek, Globe Plant turned to Zwart Techniek for the battery and to Enova for the energy management system. Kay Geurts is the designated point of contact.
How does the system stay within that 2.4 MW limit? Zwart Techniek’s EMS continuously monitors the connection limit. Enova sends its signals to that system, which only executes them within the specified limits. This allows the battery to participate fully in the energy markets without overloading the connection.
Weekly meetings
“We take care of all aspects of energy management,” says Geurts. “We configure the battery, CHP unit and electric boiler to maximise returns on the energy markets, whilst ensuring the crops always receive what they need. Based on the cultivation plan, we assess the level of flexibility available. We then draw up a comprehensive control strategy: maximum yield, minimum costs and no compromises on crop production. We hold meetings almost weekly to discuss expected consumption patterns, available installations and the market. Flexible capacity for grid balancing and emergency power for TenneT are always on the agenda.”
Result: payback period of approximately four years
“We’ve been working together for about a year now,” says Van de Westelaken. “Since the battery came online, things have been running in a very structured way. Enova provides regular, detailed reports. These show that the integrated management and the exploitation of market opportunities have already yielded significant results. If this trend continues, the battery will have paid for itself in about four years.”
The benefits of flexibility
“Without a battery and an integrated control system, you’re a lot less flexible, and so you can’t optimise as much,” says Geurts. “High energy prices then become an immediate risk. With flexibility, you’re less vulnerable to price rises. With a battery, you can even benefit from this: the differences between the highest and lowest prices are becoming ever greater. In addition, we use the battery at times when electricity demand is high. This helps us avoid a high monthly peak, which makes an immediate difference to grid costs.”
Next step: congestion management
The next step for Globe Plant is congestion management: making capacity available to alleviate regional grid congestion. “This will particularly benefit industry in the Rotterdam port area. It’s great that the greenhouse horticulture sector can demonstrate its contribution in this way,” says Van de Westelaken.
“Flexibility, decisiveness and looking ahead, both in the short and long term. That’s what determines whether your business is future-proof,” concludes Van de Westelaken. “Enova is a good partner in this regard.”
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