Green parking at TT Circuit Assen

GroenLeven, a supplier of solar panels, conceived the idea of building a solar park as a carport for motorcycles. But a consortium of many parties was required to actually create one of the Netherlands’ largest solar parks. Insurer Bovemij, ABN AMRO and Drentse Energie Organisatie financed the project, and the carports were built by construction companies based in the north of the Netherlands, such as Van der Wiel and Mannen van Staal. Tamoil petrol stations and TT Circuit Assen pledged to purchase solar energy. The Dutch province of Drenthe, which owns the land, also participated in the project. And, of course, TT Circuit Assen made the motorcycle parking lot available.

The first pile was sunk on 7 April. The park was completed on 22 June, a few days before TT Assen began. After the summer, the cable network will be delivered and the panels will start delivering energy. The 230 stakeholders who attended the opening agreed on one thing: the solar park is unique in its significant contribution to the transition to sustainable energy. Not only because the park is so unusual, but also because it is the result of close collaboration.