Eneco Launches Kabeljauwbeek Solar Farm to Power KPN Networks with Green Energy

Eneco Launches Kabeljauwbeek Solar Farm to Power KPN Networks with Green Energy

(IN BRIEF) Eneco has officially launched the Kabeljauwbeek solar farm, its largest solar project to date, which began producing electricity on January 1, 2025. The farm, located in Noord-Brabant, will supply KPN’s fixed and mobile networks with 47 gigawatt hours of green electricity annually. The solar farm, which integrates with the existing Kabeljauwbeek wind farm, optimizes space and grid usage by combining solar and wind energy generation. This project is part of Eneco’s broader efforts to meet its climate-neutral goals by 2035. The farm also includes measures to boost local biodiversity by encouraging the growth of native plants and supporting wildlife.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROTTERDAM, 15-Jan-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Eneco has announced the successful completion and launch of the Kabeljauwbeek solar farm, marking the company’s largest solar project to date. After finalizing the construction and testing phases late last year, the solar farm became operational on January 1, 2025. The electricity generated by the solar farm will power KPN’s networks, including its fiber optic and 5G mobile networks. Located in the municipality of Woensdrecht, Noord-Brabant, the Kabeljauwbeek solar farm is integrated with the existing Kabeljauwbeek wind farm, creating a hybrid renewable energy site.

Construction of the solar farm began in February of the previous year, and approximately 88,000 solar panels were installed southwest of the village of Ossendrecht. Positioned between the A4 motorway, the Schelde-Rijnkanaal canal, and the Belgian border, the site became fully operational just before the end of 2024.

As Eneco’s first combined solar and wind energy site, Kabeljauwbeek optimizes the use of available space and enhances the connection to the electrical grid. Given that solar and wind energy are often not produced simultaneously in large quantities, this dual-generation setup maximizes the efficiency of the grid connection, providing Eneco with more opportunities to deliver renewable electricity. Additionally, the farm helps prevent grid overload by allowing Eneco to reduce solar generation during peak sunny periods.

KPN will draw about 47 gigawatt hours of green solar electricity annually from the Kabeljauwbeek solar farm to power its fixed and mobile networks. This follows a previous agreement between the two companies for electricity from the Ecowende wind farm. When Ecowende is completed in 2027, KPN’s sustainable energy supply will account for about two-thirds of its total electricity consumption.

The completion of the Kabeljauwbeek solar farm marks an important milestone in Eneco’s journey towards achieving its climate objectives outlined in the company’s One Planet Plan. One of the key goals of this plan is to become climate-neutral by 2035 while ensuring all customers are supplied with clean energy. The plan also emphasizes biodiversity, and Eneco has implemented measures to support local flora and fauna growth around the solar farm, providing habitats for insects, farmland birds, small mustelids, and other species.

Media Contact:

Marnix Heijboer
Woordvoerder
marnix.heijboer@eneco.com
+31651579851

SOURCE: Eneco