The new company building of Elektro Internationaal in Woerden has been awarded energy label A+++++ (five pluses!). Achieving that requires far more than simply covering the entire roof with solar panels. The company was able to apply a great deal of its own expertise in electrical installations to make it happen.

The new building on Middellandse Zee features sheddaken (sawtooth roofs). In old factories, a row of these roofs gives the characteristic sawtooth silhouette. Fans of industrial heritage love it, but Jeroen Dirkzwager explains to Dutch national newspaper AD that the design serves an important purpose: “The windows face north, allowing daylight to enter without the bright sun heating the interior. Because of that daylight, far less artificial lighting is needed. And the south-facing sides of the roofs are covered with solar panels, right where they produce the most energy.” Additionally, the roof surface is white, which reflects sunlight and reduces heat absorption during summer.

A Nearly Energy-Neutral Building

There are several smart architectural elements that contribute to energy savings, but the technical installation is the most important factor in achieving a nearly energy-neutral building. Every part of the system is coordinated to create the optimal balance in energy consumption.
“We still use some electricity from the grid, for which we were fortunate to secure a connection early in the construction plans. But we consume only a fraction of that wind-generated energy.”

“The energy we generate with our solar panels and don’t immediately use, we store in two batteries.” — Jeroen Dirkzwager

This is where the company’s self-developed microgrid plays a key role. This independent energy network consists of a combination of a battery storage system and intelligent control equipment. “The energy we generate with our solar panels and don’t immediately need is stored in the two batteries. If we have a sunny weekend, we can store that energy as well. And if energy prices are favorable, we charge the batteries from the grid. During peak moments in our consumption, we can use the stored energy. This allows us to smooth out the peaks and dips in our energy demand from the grid.”

Eliminating Unnecessary Peaks

Such systems are now also available for homes, but with a commercial building of 6,000 square meters and an intense, irregular energy profile, more is required. Bart Ranke, who was part of the development team for the new building, explains: “With measuring equipment, we can track exactly where energy is being used. That also shows us where unnecessary peaks occur that would otherwise go unnoticed. We moved into the building in August, so we’re still fine-tuning the entire system. We need at least four seasons to properly identify trends.”

“If a company car is parked here all day, we can charge it precisely at the moments when the building has a dip in energy consumption.” — Bart Ranke

He illustrates this with the company’s eleven electric vehicles. “If a car is parked here all day, we can charge it exactly during moments when the building’s energy use dips or energy generation peaks.” Spaces in the building that are not in use are not heated or cooled. If a meeting room is booked, it is brought to the desired temperature half an hour in advance. The building is full of measures like these, each requiring a complex electrical installation.

The Building as the Ultimate Showroom

Dirkzwager: “We’ve implemented many new systems from our main suppliers. As a result, the building is the ultimate showroom of electrical expertise and innovation. In our so-called Microgrid Live Lab, we will be able to show companies exactly how everything works starting next spring.”

Elektro Internationaal leads the Netherlands with its A+++++ energy label, but Dirkzwager notes that many companies are working to become minimally dependent on the national energy grid. “You can only truly achieve that through new construction. And even then, we’re not yet completely energy self-sufficient. But that is our ultimate goal.”