Eneco Completes New Solar Roof at the Oceanium
The Oceanium at Diergaarde Blijdorp celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Three years after its opening, a solar roof was installed on the iconic building. At the time, it was the largest solar installation in Rotterdam. The 22-year-old solar panels have recently been replaced by more than 2,000 new panels capable of generating even more power. The sustainably generated electricity is used directly for climate control within the Oceanium. The old panels are being recycled and repurposed.
As the Oceanium provides a home for a large number of animal and plant species, effective climate control is essential. The building was originally designed with the integration of a solar roof in mind, enabling the generation of renewable energy to help regulate the indoor climate.
At the time, Eneco installed more than 3,400 solar panels on the roof. After nearly a quarter of a century, the panels had reached the end of their operational lifespan. Last spring, Eneco removed all existing solar panels and installed more than 2,000 new ones. Thanks to technological advances, these new panels generate almost twice as much energy as the original installation while requiring approximately 40% fewer panels.
Throughout the replacement works, the Oceanium remained open to visitors. The old solar panels were removed from the roof and collected by Stichting OPEN for processing and recycling. The new panels have now been commissioned and are fully operational. As a result, the Oceanium can continue to rely on renewable energy for years to come, ensuring optimal climate control for the animals and plants housed within the building. This means that, for example, the penguins can once again stay comfortably cool using solar energy.
The project marks another milestone in the energy partnership between Diergaarde Blijdorp and Eneco. Blijdorp was already using wind energy generated by Rotterdam wind turbines and a thermal energy storage system (heating and cooling storage).
On 15 October, Belinde Bakker, Managing Director of Diergaarde Blijdorp, and Barbara van de Bergh, Managing Director of Eneco Business, celebrated the commissioning of the Oceanium’s new solar roof.