1600 solar panels cool our fruit
Special Fruit in Meer is making its roofs available to the Ecopower citizens' cooperative for the installation of 1606 solar panels.The project was realized and financed by Ecopower. Special Fruit purchases the electricity at an affordable fixed price.
"With this project, we are proving that sustainability is not only good for the environment, but also for the community and the wallet. Thanks to the collaboration with Ecopower and Eco Technics, we are putting our sustainability strategy 'Healthy Future' into practice: offering a healthy and varied assortment of fruit and vegetables in the most sustainable way possible. Together we are working towards a greener, more sustainable and more energy-efficient future,” Jimmy de Hoon, Operations Manager Special Fruit.
The installation was carried out by the family business Eco Technics from Brecht. The solar panels will produce 835,000 kWh annually. That corresponds to the average consumption of 239 Flemish families and a CO2 reduction of 296 tons per year.
Special Fruit makes the chain more sustainable
Special Fruit provides the European retail sector with a wide range of products. As a family business, it is affiliated with SIFAV and is actively committed to reducing food waste and limiting the climate impact of its activities. The solar energy generated is used almost entirely by Special Fruit, which contributes to a smaller ecological footprint.
Another advantage for Special Fruit is that it takes care of everything. Thanks to the cooperative approach, Ecopower is responsible for the development, monitoring and maintenance of the installation, allowing the family business to focus on its core tasks. Eco Technics installed the project. Ecopower financed the 420,000 euros thanks to the contribution of citizen capital by the members of the cooperative. In this system, all staff members, suppliers, local residents and, by extension, all interested parties can invest and become owners of this sunny and sustainable project.
The cooperative's profits are shared annually with all cooperative members. This way, not only the electricity, but also the financial added value benefits the local community. In this way, the project contributes to involving citizens in the energy transition.
