MECALAC 7MWR WASHES SOLAR PANELS

To get maximum returns from solar panels, proper maintenance is essential. The 13,000 solar panels that Engelen Energie of Someren has set up on its vast 5-hectare site therefore need to be washed regularly. Recently a 5-meter long, hydraulically driven, brush installation was purchased for this work, fitting the Mecalac mobile excavator 7MWR. The top half of the nearly 10-meter-wide sunbeds can also be cleaned in one travel movement. The 1,000-liter water supply is attached to the sliding blade by means of a frame.  

The 7MWR was delivered earlier by sales consultant Fred Franken for the construction of the park and to be used for maintenance around other poultry establishments of the Engelen brothers. Jeroen Engelen already had in the back of his mind then to start washing the panels with the Mecalac. The compact construction, combined with the 4-wheel steering, made it easy to maneuver between the solar panels. Among other things, the machine was equipped with wide Nokian's 560/45 R22.5, swivel tilt, mowing function, tow bar, double-acting tipper valve and a second camera. In addition, the wide assortment of attachments makes the machine versatile. Choose from a demolition/sorting grab, pallet forks, backhoe buckets, Becx hedge trimmer, mowing basket and flail mower.

"To operate even more sustainably, we have installed a 1.3 MW battery in addition to Engelen Energie's own solar farm (6 megawatt peak). The intention is to scale up to a total of about 3.9 MW of battery capacity," said Jeroen Engelen, who runs the company together with his brother Twan.

Engelen family business is at the forefront of sustainable poultry consumption and ensures that the poultry products produced are CO2 neutral through the energy generated and stored. Annually they produce 7,500,000 KWh and the energy storage capacity is between 750,000 and 1,750,000 KWh.

Engelen Energie constructed and developed this solar farm. The Engelen family invests in the energy transition and all poultry farms they own are therefore fully sustainable in their operations.

According to Engelen, combining a ground-mounted solar farm, energy storage and deployment in energy and balancing markets is currently rare in the Netherlands, but is increasing rapidly. By deploying both systems in these markets, they help maintain balance in the electricity grid and generate additional revenue. Adding flexible power to our energy system is crucial to the success of the energy transition."