Together we build a sustainable future

Our mission and vision

The energy transition is a shared challenge that demands collaboration. Solar Proactive has the relevant expertise to proactively contribute—together with municipalities, cooperatives, and the agricultural sector (landowners)—to the energy transition and the sustainability of society. We do this by developing and realizing locally accepted solar parks (with storage).

Our goal is to help create an “energy landscape” for sustainable energy in the broadest sense—through renewable energy generation via solar panels, the development of grid stations to increase national capacity, and in time also through sustainable storage and the production of green hydrogen.

Nature and Biodiversity

Each solar park is designed on the basis of a landscape participation process, with great attention paid to improving nature and biodiversity. While our primary goal is to generate solar energy, enriching nature and ecology is also an important priority.

With the construction of a solar park, we create new natural areas and open up opportunities to improve the site’s ecological values compared with intensive agriculture or livestock farming. After 25 years, the site is transferred to a conservation manager. The solar field is maintained using ecological mowing management, giving nature every chance to prepare for the transition. In this way, not only are natural areas expanded, but a safe area for nature is created, there is a wide variety of animals, and renewable energy is generated in a responsible manner.

In all our projects, we carefully consider how we can make a positive contribution to the habitat of different animal species, and we explore possibilities for cultivating flowers, pick-your-own fruit, or herbs.

Dual land use is relatively straightforward for a solar park. The land can be used for grazing small livestock and poultry. It can also be used to grow various crops or pick-your-own fruit, so that the biodiversity of the land is improved by attracting different (small) animal species.

Solar Proactive and area development

At Solar Proactive, we believe a solar park functions best when it forms part of a larger, integrated whole.

A solar park often becomes part of area development, a transformation, or a redevelopment in its surroundings. The focus is not always on the solar park itself; rather, it is one component of an integrated solution for the area or municipality.

For example: the redevelopment of land, the reconfiguration of natural areas, or creating an energy landscape for the municipality to meet climate-neutral objectives. In this way, a solar park can have greater impact as part of an integrated whole that links and strengthens different facets within a landscape.

In the responsible development of a solar park, value is placed on landscape, biodiversity, and integration into the surroundings. Dimensions, scale, and design are therefore decisive for preserving landscape quality. To this end, Solar Proactive always works with renowned landscape architecture firms.

During landscape integration, we work with local parties to explore opportunities for linking with the surrounding area in terms of:

• Landscape structures
• Cultural heritage
• Recreational uses
• Strengthening the ecological situation and biodiversity

Participation

A locally accepted solar park is a shared enterprise. Through participation, local residents and other stakeholders are given the opportunity to actively contribute ideas, take part in decision-making, and also participate in a solar park. This leads not only to good landscape and ecological integration of a solar park, but also to added value and broad, shared support in the surrounding area.

To shape participation, participants from the area (local residents/interest groups/local government) are invited to think along about the design and integration of the solar park. We assess who the stakeholders are and where the needs lie. Depending on this, and on the intended design of the solar park, we collaborate with local parties and organize and facilitate an appropriate participation process.

As part of the participation process, the following steps may occur:

• Aligning the approach with the Municipality;

• Consultations with local parties such as energy cooperatives and associations;

• Information evenings for stakeholders and/or local residents;

• Kitchen-table conversations with immediate neighbors;

• Design workshop(s) for good integration into the surroundings.

We believe municipalities, cooperatives and the agricultural sector (landowners), as well as local parties, contractors and growers, should be involved to achieve an accepted solar park.

Where possible, we make use of the expertise of local parties. In doing so, they can contribute to the development, construction, management and/or maintenance of the solar park and thereby become part of the project.

Land owners

Developing a solar park can mean a much higher land yield for landowners. A solar park provides a higher lease payment or purchase price than agricultural activities typically pay. For many landowners, this can be a favorable development. In addition to leasing and selling land, participation is also an option.

Do you have land that you currently lease (for agricultural use), or did you once purchase land as an investment? Your land can offer an attractive return when you lease or sell it for the construction of a solar park! In both cases we can make you a proposal that may not only be financially attractive but also helps create a sustainable future.