Battery storage for the most sustainable distribution center in the Netherlands

Industry Logistics + EV
6 MW/12 MWh Battery storage
8.4 MWp Solar power
3x AC / 1x DC EV charging infrastructure
ABOUT THE CUSTOMER

Van Acht Logistics is a family-owned business with roots dating back to 1930. What began as an agricultural business in Sint-Oedenrode has grown into a leading specialist in refrigerated, frozen, and non-temperature-controlled storage and transportation. With two distribution centers in Sint-Oedenrode and Veghel, Van Acht offers space for more than 85,000 pallet positions.
Sustainability is a fundamental aspect of Van Acht’s corporate philosophy. The company has been completely natural gas-free since 1991. The Veghel facility, a new 58,000 m² building located directly next to the A50, achieved the BREEAM-NL Outstanding certificate in 2024 with an exceptional score of 91.46%. This is the highest possible recognition for sustainable construction in the Netherlands.

The challenge

Key challenge: How can you make the most of the output from over 12,000 solar panels in an energy market struggling with grid congestion and fluctuating prices?
Van Acht generates more solar energy than the company consumes itself. In the past, the surplus was fed back into the grid, but the grid is already saturated during sunny periods. Additionally, Van Acht wanted to be prepared for the growth and expansion of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles without being hindered by grid congestion.
The company was looking for a partner that could not only provide technical management but also active optimization of energy flows and market participation.

The solution

Covolt provides an integrated solution for Van Acht, based on four pillars:

Asset Monitoring (AM):

  • Technical management of the PV systems at both locations
  • Preventive and corrective maintenance
  • Component Health Monitoring and Troubleshooting Service
  • Panel Cleaning


Aggregation Services (AG):

  • Reporting expected PV generation to the grid operator
  • Maintaining balance and optimizing the market
  • Integration with the 12 MWh battery capacity for flexibility

 

Nomination Services (NOM):

  • Day-ahead planning of energy flows
  • Production and consumption forecasts
  • Optimization of the battery strategy based on market prices

 

Self-Consumption Optimization (EOS):

  • Monitoring of production and consumption
  • Identification of deviations and periodic reporting
  • Smart energy management system for communication between solar panels, batteries, EV charging infrastructure, and the grid
result

Thanks to its partnership with Covolt, Van Acht makes the most of every kilowatt-hour. The 12 MWh battery capacity allows the company to store excess solar power and use or sell it at opportune times. Grid congestion is no longer an obstacle to growth.

 

“This project ensures that we are fully prepared for the future. The batteries give us greater flexibility: if we run short on capacity, we can adjust things ourselves!”
Paul van Acht, Director, Van Acht Logistics

Customer
Company
Van Acht Logistics
Sector
Logistics
Location
Veghel
Country
Netherlands
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