'Our company will be energy neutral next year'

Poultry farmer Niels Katier from Ambt Delden in Overijssel is on his way to energy-neutral business operations. He currently has 80.000 day-old chicks, which are being raised as ready-to-lay chickens. The electricity is already generated by solar panels, but the real challenge lies in reducing gas consumption.

The poultry farmer also participates in a 'postcode rose project'. This project is intended to stimulate the generation of sustainable energy. Project participants receive a discount on the energy bill. By participating in the scheme, his stable roofs will be covered with 1.000 solar panels next fall. The electricity generated by this is for the members of the Hof van Twente Energy Cooperative on Rozen.

When will your company be energy neutral?
"At the moment I have 150 solar panels and in the spring another 351 panels will be added. From that moment on, our company can also be called energy neutral. At least when it comes to electricity. Over the years we have had the old, not We have demolished sustainable stables and replaced them with the latest building materials, which we last did in 2009."

"We get new chicks a few times a year and then our stables have to be heated. That costs a lot of gas. That is why our challenge lies mainly in reducing gas consumption. I am currently investigating whether biogas is a sustainable The next question, however, is: how can that biogas be transported to my stables?”

Is solar energy economically interesting?
"It is certainly interesting if you can pay for the financed investment with the SDE+ subsidy. You will receive this subsidy for 15 years per kWh (kilowatt hour) generated. You then use the generated energy yourself as much as possible and the residual flows can be returned to the grid. to be netted."

Why do you choose roof rental to an energy cooperative?  
"The municipality where I live wants to be energy neutral by 2035. I have a lot of roof space left and that lends itself well to solar panels. That is why I signed up for this postcode rose project. The project here is in collaboration with the energy cooperative. In exchange for the roof rental, I receive a compensation of €40.000 over 15 years. The cooperative members in turn receive sustainable energy at home and benefit from a reduced energy rate."

Is every agricultural roof suitable for such a project?
"You have to take into account that the roof must be asbestos-free. In addition, the building must have a solid construction to be able to bear all the panels. Also know that you can do nothing else with the roof for 15 years. After that time, you are allowed to you can take over the panels for nothing or have them taken off."

What are the business plans for the near future? 
"In 5 years we hope to have completely covered 5 of the 7 stables (net about 4.000 square meters) with solar panels. By then the stables will be equipped with heat recovery systems, which will allow us to reduce a significant part of our gas consumption. In 5 years' time, we hope to renovate or replace 2 stables and perhaps cover them with solar panels. We will grow into a modern company with an eye for sustainability, a good image and connection with the public."

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