Groningen Seaports, Vopak Push Solar Power

The Dutch tank storage company Royal Vopak,  Groningen Seaports and Whitehelm Capital announce their intention to jointly invest in a 27 MW solar park. The solar photovoltaic field will be one of the largest currently in the Netherlands.

The new solar park will be situated on 19 ha of land adjacent to Vopak Terminal Eemshaven, land which is currently already leased by the terminal. The produced green electricity will be made available for local use in Groningen and Vopak terminals.

Based on the available energy infrastructure, Groningen and especially Eemshaven are considered strategic locations for production and storage of renewable energy in the Netherlands. This project will give Whitehelm, Groningen Seaports and Vopak the opportunity to explore further new energy initiatives in Eemshaven.

Wessel Schevernels, Chairman of Vopak Terminal Eemshaven and Senior Investment Director at Whitehelm said: "Whitehelm is delighted to be working with our world-class partners Vopak and Groningen Seaports to deliver sustainable investment opportunities for our investors."

Groningen Seaports, the authority for the port of Delfzijl and Eemshaven,  said that it is very pleased with this green expansion of existing Vopak Terminal Eemshaven activities.

According to Cas König, CEO of Groningen Seaports: "This park contributes to the sustainability of the port and the reduction of CO2 emissions. For us, locally generated green electricity is of eminent importance as a location requirement for both current and future business activities. We increasingly see that providing renewable energy determines if a company chooses our ports as their location."

The final investment decision after receipt of relevant permits and subsidies is envisaged for the autumn of 2019. The Vopak solar park is expected to be operational in 2020.

Vopak Terminal Eemshaven is a joint venture between funds managed by Whitehelm Capital and Royal Vopak.