Halen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) -A fruit grower at Halen named Mark Nickmans established major battery cabinets to boost sustainable pear farming at his operation. The large battery collects electricity from his installation of 844 solar panels to deliver energy during both moments of reduced sunlight and periods of elevated utility costs.
Fruit grower Mark Nickmans at Halen invested in two substantial battery cabinets to boost the sustainability performance of his pear cultivation facilities. The battery system functions as a mega facility designed to operate cooling equipment both during timeframes without adequate sunlight and at elevated energy supply rates. Nickmans engages in pear cultivation while expanding his role to storage management and pear sorting services for other growers and prioritises environmentally friendly practices.
He operated with solar panels earlier but pursued an improved energy system for times when power conditions became problematic.
“I already had a large installation with solar panels,”
he stated,
“but for the moments when there is no sun and the electricity is very expensive, I was looking for a solution.”
The integration of this technology reflects a growing trend among agricultural producers to utilise renewable energy sources effectively.
Nickmans has now found that solution in a mega battery.
“The battery stores the energy generated by the 844 solar panels,”
Nickmans continues. And that turns out to be an interesting financial matter.
“When there is a lot of sun, electricity from the grid is usually cheap. But during the day, and when there is no sun, electricity from the grid is more expensive. Then we still have power from our battery.”
According to the grower, he will earn back his investment in six years.
The installation is not large enough to fully meet the energy needs of the pear grower.
“But that is not all that matters. I also just want to grow pears that are as green as possible. I also preferred to charge the forklift and the machines when the sun was shining. But with the battery, I still have a buffer to work with,”
Nickmans concludes.
The context of sustainable practices in agriculture
Agricultural users increasingly adopt large battery installations as part of their effort to minimise energy expenses while decreasing their environmental impact. A high solar energy potential in regions such as Halen enables battery storage systems to provide substantial operational improvements.
Lately, statistics demonstrate that agricultural practices spend about 10% of overall national energy needs, yet sustainable measures must remain crucial for maintaining ecological balance and financial stability.
The population in Belgium since 2023 has reached up to 20% of farms adopting renewable energy solutions, including wind turbines alongside solar panels. Agricultural industries now prioritise renewable energy systems because they combine sustainability methods with market-resilience strategies against uncertain energy market conditions.
