Three quarters of producers are taking energy-saving measures to reduce the energy consumption. Almost half of them produce energy on site, mainly through photovoltaic cells, CHP and even residual heat.
The total annual energy production of the VBT cooperatives and their producers is 2.2 million MWh. This is enough to provide energy to 640,000 families for a year.
At a horticultural cooperative, the energy consumption heavily depends on how much produce is handled, as well as of the logistical processes, sorting and storage. The share of renewable energy from in-house production in the total energy consumption has risen from 8% in 2013 to 11% in 2017. All VBT cooperatives make use of solar panels. Two cooperatives make use of cogeneration.
Producers’ energy consumption is heavily dependent upon their business situation, their cropping plan and weather conditions. Majority of producers put measures in place to reduce their energy consumption. Almost half of them produce energy on site, mainly through solar panels, cogeneration and even waste heat. Some producers offer fields for wind turbines.