Smart energy innovation for Van der Spek
What began as a modest sale of fruit from Grandpa Van der Spek's orchard grew into a thriving garden center. "We sold fruit and plants from the parking lot, but that soon ran pretty well," says owner and grandson Ton van der Spek. "So in 2014 we moved into real premises and things have been going fast ever since. Even there we were bursting at the seams, the parking lot was jamming and it became clear: we had to expand."
Garden center of the future
About the client
Company
Garden center Van der Spek
Need
A future-proof building ready for tomorrow's energy supply
Solution
Power supply with EMS, transformers, charging stations and an energy storage system
With this future-proof building, we are ready for tomorrow's energy supply.
From modest orchard to sustainable garden center
That expansion became a reality about a decade later. "We built a 10,000-square-meter garden center. But with such a scale comes a responsibility: how do you ensure a future-proof building that is ready for tomorrow's energy supply? That's why we got it right the first time!"
An intensive collaboration
While mapping out the plan, we came up with the idea of an energy storage battery. Fudura was suggested by our installation partner as an expert in this field. "We started talking and realized that we were going to double the number of charging stations and solar panels - which had already been ordered - after all," says Ton. "As a garden center, we really wanted everything to be right and to complete the picture. For optimal and sustainable energy supply of the entire building and for our customers. That worked out with Fudura's advice."
Then it was time for implementation. "Fudura's Customer Delivery Manager contacted us every week. That provided clarity, and this streamlined the process. Because there is a lot involved: placing, coordinating and overseeing everything. That can take some shifting. If something unexpected did go differently, we solved it together."
Result: a gas-free building and smart energy trading
Since October 2024, everything has been running: the gasless building, the solar panels, the charging stations and the battery. "We are proud of what we have put up. Everything runs on own generation as much as possible and with the energy management system, smart control is provided when we use energy ourselves or can actually feed it back."
This is not only sustainable, but also financially smart. "Fudura is also our metering company and monitors continuously: from generation to consumption, from battery to charging stations. We use our own solar power when energy prices are high and sell when it is strategically advantageous. Because we use our own solar energy to power our charging stations, we can generate Renewable Fuel Units (HBEs) - certificates that in turn are worth money. The battery helps with this: it stores solar power during the day, so we can also use our own power for charging at night.
And on the imbalance market, we can react quickly if there is a shortage on the energy grid here in the neighborhood - as in so many places in the Netherlands. We can then supply power precisely when the price is highest. That way you help the grid and, of course, it's also very attractive financially. A win-win, in other words."
Do you see opportunities for your location? Get in touch And discover what is already possible today!
"Everything runs on our own generation and the smart system controls when we can feed back."
Sector example
Van der Spek's sustainable approach is not going unnoticed. "When we opened, we received a lot of attention from the press. And Meanwhile, other garden centers are stopping by to see how we have arranged our energy supply. It's a very future-proof and clean system: heating a greenhouse like ours takes quite a lot of energy, we now do it gas-free and very sustainably. A huge saving for both the environment and our wallet."
Looking to the future, Ton concludes, "Above all, we will continue to do what we are good at: running a beautiful and inexpensive garden center. But with the ambition to do it as sustainable and future-proof as possible. And this energy infrastructure has certainly achieved that!"
Smart business with tomorrow's energy
Whether you want to expand, become more sustainable or simply use energy smarter - it starts with a good plan. Like Van der Spek, we like to think along with you about the best solution for your situation. From advice to realization and management: we make sure it works and pays off. Discover what is possible for your location.
Vitens goes sustainable for every drop with energy storage
