Floating solar project demands safety: Global Frozen Vegetables Supplier, ARDO, Transforms Wastewater Reservoir for Energy Production

• 4,860 module installation makes use of large wastewater reservoir and provides energy for local use and export

• 2MWp system qualifies for government support through Green Certificates 
  Safety and monitoring key installer considerations when specifying the system

• Safety and monitoring key installer considerations when specifying the system
   

29th August 2022 –— ARDO NV, a Belgium-based global frozen vegetables supplier, has commissioned a 4,860-module floating solar installation at its facility in Ardooie. Leveraging the safety profile and monitoring capabilities of SolarEdge Power Optimizers and inverters, the 2MW installation generates electricity for onsite use by ARDO and excess electricity is sold profitably to the grid.

ARDO collects the filtered wastewater from washing vegetables in a reservoir that feeds local irrigation. Because the roofs of the facility are unsuitable for a rooftop solar system, ARDO identified the reservoir as an installation site and formed a joint venture company with environmental technology company, Trevi NV, to realise the project.

The installation generates 1.7 MWh of energy annually with any excess electricity exported to the grid via feed-in tariffs, providing additional revenue.

Dries Van Der Straeten, Energy Project Lead at Trevi NV, explains: “The floating solar installation makes smart use of the space, providing the benefit of shading the water and reducing evaporation. While the water level in the reservoir can rise by up to nine metres, the surface remains stable. The design flexibility offered by SolarEdge‘s DC-optimized inverter solution allowed us to place more modules on a string, and reduce the quantity of costly cabling required. Lastly and most importantly, SolarEdge’s technology also provides safety for installers and maintenance teams.”

SolarEdge’s SafeDC™ built-in solution enables Power Optimizers to automatically de-energise the entire array to a touch-safe 1V in case of emergency shutdowns, providing installers and maintenance teams with enhanced protection.

Van Der Straeten adds: “Accessibility is a significant asset in floating solar projects and while a boat is always available for safety reasons, it is easier and quicker to remotely monitor the installation from dry land. With the technology provided by SolarEdge we can monitor exactly how modules are performing and assess overall system function through the online portal without needing to physically visit the site.”