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The use of agricultural buildings and open spaces for photovoltaics is on the rise. The globally active specialist for barn and feeding systems, Big Dutchman, has also been installing solar panels for its customers for some time. For greater efficiency, it combines these with tailored battery storage systems. Cables and wires from Helukabel contribute to ensuring that the systems function reliably even under the harsh conditions of agriculture.

The global population is growing, and with it, the demand for food: Current projections suggest that by 2050, nearly ten billion people will live on Earth, about 20 percent more than today. Feeding them all is becoming an increasing challenge for the global community—especially for agriculture, which is responsible for producing the majority of the required food and animal feed.

For this reason, the industry is constantly looking for solutions to increase its efficiency and productivity. The right technical equipment is essential for this—and this is the specialty of Big Dutchman. The company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of feeding systems and barn equipment for modern animal husbandry. Founded in 1938 in the USA, its headquarters are now located in Vechta-Calveslage, Lower Saxony. Globally, Big Dutchman employs more than 3,100 staff members at over 30 locations.

Utilizing Agricultural Land for Photovoltaics

The first product that Big Dutchman brought to market at the time was an automatic feeding system for poultry. Over the years, additional solutions for laying hen farming, poultry fattening, and pig farming were added. Big Dutchman is now breaking into new business fields such as insect farming and greenhouse construction—and has also been considering the generation and use of renewable energy in agriculture for some time in Calveslage. After all, so-called Agri-PV, the use of agricultural land and buildings for photovoltaics, is considered a major trend in the energy transition.

"Agricultural enterprises are ideal for generating solar energy, as large areas are usually available," explains Nils Neugebauer, Product Manager for Photovoltaics & Batteries at Big Dutchman.

With our Sun Farm and Sun Box systems, we offer our customers solutions for both energy generation and storage. The combination of both enables them to cover as much of their own energy needs as possible and minimize their electricity costs.

Nils Neugebauer, Productmanager Photovoltaik & Batterien at Big Dutchman

Battery Storage Systems Increase Flexibility

Under the product name Sun Farm, Big Dutchman installs photovoltaic systems for its customers on barn buildings and open spaces. High-quality components are used, which are particularly well-suited for the harsh agricultural environment. The systems become even more profitable with the addition of a so-called Sun Box: these are stationary battery storage units, designed as cabinet or container solutions. Farmers can use them to store the self-generated electricity and use it as needed—even when the sun is not shining. This saves costs and increases independence from the public power grid.

A major advantage of the Sun Box system is its high flexibility: the battery storage units are modular in design and can be connected in parallel. This allows storage capacities ranging from a few kilowatt-hours to as much as 20 megawatt-hours. An intelligent management system controls and monitors the charging and discharging of the individual modules, ensuring optimal utilization. "Additionally, users can access all important data, such as charge level and energy flow, on their smartphones at any time via our app," adds Neugebauer.

Image Processing

Industrial Image Processing—Easy and Profitable to Use

Cabling is a central component of PV and storage systems. The solar panels are interconnected and connected to the inverter, which makes the generated electricity usable. The battery storage units also require various cables for energy, signal, and data transmission. Here, Big Dutchman relies on the competence and expertise of Helukabel—and has done so for quite some time: "Our collaboration dates back to 2008," recalls Neugebauer. "We already use Helukabel's electrical connection technology in other parts of our product portfolio, so it was logical for us to do the same in the PV sector."

Cables that Withstand Wind And Weather

The operating conditions in Agri-PV are challenging: the systems are exposed to weather all year round, which means humidity, fluctuating temperatures, and of course, UV radiation. Additionally, there is dirt, dust, and the constant risk of rodent infestations. The cables and wires must withstand all these external influences to ensure long-term and reliable operation. "We use only high-quality components from renowned manufacturers for our systems," promises Neugebauer. "And Helukabel is clearly one of them for us."

Big Dutchman utilizes, among other things, the Solarflex cable series. These cables, specially developed for the wiring of photovoltaic systems, are halogen-free, flame-retardant, and resistant to UV radiation, ozone, and weather conditions. This makes them ideally suited for outdoor use. "The Solarflex is also certified according to the European standard EN 50618," adds David von der Gathen, the responsible regional sales manager at Helukabel. "This ensures that it reliably meets all practical requirements." To prevent bite damage from martens, mice, and other rodents, Solarflex cables are also available with a special protective braid made of stainless steel.

To connect the photovoltaic systems to the grid and link them to the battery storage systems, Big Dutchman uses the power distribution cables of the Nayy-O and Nayy-J series. These distribution cables, approved under DIN VDE 0276-603, are designed for voltages up to 1,000 volts and are suitable for installation underground, outdoors, and in buildings. The conductors are made of aluminum, and a robust PVC outer sheath provides the necessary protection. Additionally, Helukabel supplies various control, data, and BUS cables to the system manufacturer.

On Schedule Directly to the Construction Site

For Nils Neugebauer, the high flexibility is also a significant argument for the connection technology specialist: "We receive the required cables from Helukabel in precisely the needed lengths, delivered on time directly to the construction site—one call is all it takes!" Additionally, both companies are globally positioned and understand the specifics of various markets and regions. "For example, we also offer products with international approvals such as UL, which are suitable for use in the USA," adds von der Gathen. For export-oriented machinery and plant manufacturers like Big Dutchman, this is a decisive advantage.

Neugebauer assumes that the topic of Agri-PV will become increasingly important in the coming years—also at Big Dutchman. "With Helukabel, we have a long-standing and reliable partner by our side who can provide us with complete electrical connection technology for our projects from a single source," he praises. "I look forward to continuing this successful partnership in the future as well, to jointly help shape the energy transition in agriculture."