Case study: European solar development
Case study: European solar development
Late-stage development, construction, and operation of Netherlands-based solar farm
In 2019, Bluefield acquired a late-stage development site in the Netherlands.
Working with a local developer, the site was brought to the ‘ready to build’ phase prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. However, the construction phase was undertaken during this period, with special measures employed in order to operate in accordance to both local and international lockdown laws.
Read about our approach to Europe
Netherlands navigation
2020
Built during the pandemic
18,000
Solar panels
5.6 MW
Capacity
452
Equivalent households powered annually
Adapting to challenging conditions
In 2019, Bluefield completed the acquisition of a greenfield solar PV project in the Netherlands with a planned installed capacity of 5.6 megawatts.
Located in the northerly region of Groening, Bluefield worked with a local Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contractor to bring the project towards the ‘Ready to Build’ phase.
However, construction work on the site coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions placed on international travel, as well as local lockdown measures.
As a result, Bluefield’s construction management and monitoring strategy had to be adjusted in order to maintain quality standards and compliance.
Typically, on-site visits would play a key role in this process, but owing to the restrictions related to the pandemic, this would not be possible for the during of the build.
The Bluefield team adapted to these challenges by utilising various forms of video technology to maintain oversight throughout construction, most notably through the use of a drone which was operated by the on-site contractor and provided a live feed of the site works.
Uniquely, the site utilised an east-west array, in which solar panels were oriented to face both directions sunrise and sunset, to complement the geography of the site and optimise panel efficiency.
Through this approach, Bluefield were able to see the site construction through to fruition, eventually commissioning the site and operating it through to its sale in 2022.
To operate under these unprecedented conditions posed a significant challenge, and required teamwork, innovation, and flexibility to enable us to overcome them and commission the site, crucially, without comprising on quality standards.
