Housing association Parteon calls it an emergency measure, but one that is in the interests of the residents. Otherwise they would have to wait in temporary accommodation for another nine months. “A pilot in the interests of the tenants,” Parteon emphasizes.
Power from solar panels
This concerns 44 homes on D. Doniastraat. The old houses at this location suffered from subsidence, drafts and damp. They have been demolished and replaced by modern, sustainable homes. Residents can return to their homes after construction. However, connecting to the power grid is not yet possible due to persistent grid congestion.
In order to allow the residents to move, Parteon and the province of North Holland purchased four batteries of 60 kilowatt hours each. The batteries are powered by solar panels on the roofs and via the existing building connection. There is even a generator ready for emergencies, should the demand for electricity peak or the batteries run out.
Example of a pressing problem
The province contributed 150,000 euros for the batteries and inverters, a third of the total amount.
According to deputy Jelle Beemsterboer, this project shows how pressing the problem on the power grid is. “Connection problems to the electricity network can seriously delay housing construction,” he says.
If everything goes according to plan, the houses will still have a normal connection to the grid in the spring. The batteries will then not disappear into storage: Parteon wants to reuse them in other projects in North Holland.