The first Smart Solar Tree in the Netherlands is now at Kennispark

At the end of 2024, Kennispark Ondernemers and VONK merged and continued as a single business association under the name Kennispark Ondernemers. The completion of a number of physical projects at Kennispark is a good moment to look back on what has been achieved in recent years thanks to the efforts of the VONK committees and to look ahead to what developments are still to come in terms of making Kennispark greener and more sustainable.

Dick Theisens of Symbol and, until recently, chair of the Sustainability Committee: ‘In 2022, the cooperative “Kennispark geeft Energie” merged with the Sustainability Committee under the new name Commissie Duurzaamheid Kennispark (CDK). The committee wanted to stimulate and highlight sustainable innovations at Kennispark by connecting building owners, tenants and users with sustainable initiatives, providing a platform for these sustainable initiatives and bringing them to the attention of entrepreneurs at Kennispark. After three years, we can conclude that this has been achieved with, among other things, the solar tree, roof scans and the allocation of RegioDeal funds for several projects at Kennispark.

Solar tree

The solar tree installed along the Innovation Path is the most recent and also the last completed project of the former Sustainability Committee. Dick: ‘The committee ensured that solar panels were installed on a large number of buildings at Kennispark. However, this form of sustainability is hardly visible. To highlight the possibilities of solar energy, we wanted to create something visible and tangible. To this end, we applied for a grant together with the Kennispark Area Organisation and the municipality of Enschede, which, supplemented by our own resources, enabled us to install the first Smart Solar Tree in the Netherlands at Kennispark.’

The solar tree is a nice addition to ‘Vergaderen in het Groen’ (Meetings in the Green), a RegioDeal project of the municipality of Enschede, which has created a beautiful meeting and lunch spot along the Innovation Path near the Broodbode, which is also attractively lit in the evening thanks to the solar tree’s own generated energy. The integrated WiFi amplifier ensures a good internet connection and you can tap free drinking water at the water tap.

Roof scans

In collaboration with the municipality of Enschede, the committee has been actively involved in carrying out roof scans on the buildings at Kennispark in recent years. Entrepreneurs and property owners were assisted in installing solar panels on their company roofs, including personal advice, a roof inspection, applying for subsidies, selecting quotes and collective purchasing. The first enthusiastic success stories were shared with other companies, resulting in more than twenty companies ultimately making use of the roof scan.

Solar panels

Following the roof scans and the positive experiences shared once again, solar panels have been installed on several buildings thanks to the committee’s advice on subsidies and encouraging collective purchasing.

RegioDeal projects

In addition to the solar tree, the Sustainability Committee has submitted several project proposals within the RegioDeal aimed at making Kennispark more sustainable and future-proof. Due to changes in the procedure, the applications had to be rewritten and the assessment is not yet complete, as a result of which the Sustainability Committee has transferred the completion of the following projects to the Park Innovation Committee.

FC Twente solar field (including battery storage)

To support the development of the solar field on the FC Twente site, the Sustainability Committee has submitted a RegioDeal application for a container battery to absorb peak loads by connecting it to a Smart Energy Hub. The development of the solar field has been ongoing for some time and has not yet been realised, partly due to grid congestion.

Solar parking

To make the realisation of solar parking attractive to entrepreneurs at Kennispark, a subsidy has been applied for through the RegioDeal, which will cover 25% of the costs and enable electric cars to be charged in their own car park using solar panels on the roofs of the covered parking spaces.

Dick: ‘By setting up the various committees within what was then VONK, we ensured that we were not just a talking shop, but actually got to work on concrete projects. In recent years, we have realised several projects together with the Kennispark Entrepreneurs, the municipality and the Area Organisation, thereby contributing to a sustainable and green innovation campus. This has laid a solid foundation for the Park Innovation Committee to build on. We are therefore confidently handing over the baton to the new committee.’

Future plans of the Park Innovation Committee

Geert Wubben of Pontus is involved as a committee member in setting up a Smart Energy Hub at Kennispark: ‘In recent years, great strides have indeed been made, but we have been overtaken by reality in some projects, which means that we are currently facing other challenges, such as grid congestion. This means that solutions that were initially intended as innovative additions, such as the container battery, have suddenly become essential for the realisation of a solar field. In order to respond effectively to developments such as these, we are setting up a Smart Energy Hub. This will enable us not only to generate sustainable energy through the RegioDeal projects that are still to be completed, but also to use it in an innovative way. The connection between building owners, tenants and users that the Sustainability Committee has already established is an important prerequisite for finding a joint solution. With the help of the ‘meten achter de meter’ (measure behind the meter) subsidy, we can, for example, look at how we can relieve the grid at peak times so that we can use extra power when necessary. In order to further develop Kennispark, it is important that we focus fully on the challenges surrounding grid congestion, and setting up the Smart Energy Hub is the most important first step. This is being done in close collaboration with the Kennispark Entrepreneurs, the municipality, the Area Organisation and, of course, the Park Innovation Committee. We are still looking for one or two committee members, so if you would like to contribute your ideas and work towards a sustainable and green Kennispark, please send an email to info@kennisparkondernemers.nl.”