First permit for solar farm from farmer's pool

The Drenthe municipality of Borger-Odoorn has granted a permit to realize a solar park of 49 hectares in Exloo. The park will be placed on land that originates from the solar farm pool that a group of farmers with solar energy specialist GroenLeven has set up.

The park will largely be set up on oxidizing peat soil, which entails a higher cultivation risk for growers. The fact that the permit has been granted is a success in light of the fact that the municipality did not respond to individual applications for a solar farm.

Joint 'sales'
Just like the sale of potatoes and onions via a pool, in this pool jointly tried to increase success, but in the form of a solar park. Instead of products, farmers bring in promising land for solar parks, so that the municipality can more easily choose the plots on which a solar farm can best be realized.

Ultimately, the land owner of the land on which the park is actually built receives compensation. The owners of the other land within the pool where there will be no solar park will receive a contribution for their participation in the pool, in the form of an option fee.

Park occupies land owned by several farmers
When it is ready, the park will supply power to about 14.500 households. The park will be 49 hectares in size, and the land for the park consists of plots of various farmers. According to Maarten de Groot, spokesperson for GroenLeven, the participants in the pool will receive a compensation during the time that the solar park is there.

He does not want to say anything about the amount of the compensation: "It's about the entire process. We made good agreements with the arable farmers in advance and worked together on local support and good communication. We received compliments for this from the city council, both for the set-up of the pool and for creating support in the area for the plan. With this success, we hope that many more projects will follow based on this approach, also in other municipalities."

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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