WDP invests another 25 million euros in solar panels in the Netherlands. Although solar panels are not the logistics property specialist's core business, the investment is not harming WDP. To do so, the Belgian company mainly diverts to the Netherlands, where it benefits from subsidies.
The flat roofs of distribution centres lend themselves well to solar panels, WDP knows that too. According to De Tijd, WDP earns more from solar panels than its biggest customers. In 2016, solar panels in Belgium, the Netherlands and Romania brought in €8.4 million; accounting for 8 per cent of the company's total revenue. By comparison, large clients like Kuehne & Nagel bring in 6.5 per cent of all rental income.
WDP doubles capacity in the Netherlands
WDP is investing another 25 million euros in 100,000 solar panels in the Netherlands. It is doubling its capacity in the Netherlands from 25 megawatt peak to 50 megawatt peak in one year. With this extra capacity, WDP will be able to supply the entire island of Texel with green electricity by 2018.
Netherlands attractive due to subsidies
The choice of the Netherlands is said to be due to the subsidies in our country. The return WDP wants to achieve on the solar panels should be in line with the return on the property portfolios in a country. The property portfolios in the Netherlands and Belgium are almost the same, but the capacity of solar panels in Belgium is only 22 MWp.
CO2 neutral
WDP is now heading towards 85 megawatt peak of solar power in Belgium, the Netherlands and Romania. Eventually, that should reach 100 megawatt peak. Ultimately, the investments should lead to a CO2-neutral WDP.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
