Tomato Masters in Deinze has become the first in Belgium to install solar panels within their greenhouses, a project developed by the Swiss startup Voltiris. The panels are designed to hang in greenhouses without hindering the growth of the tomato plants. They specifically filter the light spectrum that is not essential for photosynthesis, allowing the plants to retain sufficient light while simultaneously generating energy. The official kick-off of the project took place earlier this month in Deinze. In the upcoming months, four more demonstration projects will be taken into action, with the most remarkable being the first hectare-scale project with thousands of modules, starting in April this year at Meier Gemüse.
© Cooperatie Hoogstraten CV
© Cooperatie Hoogstraten CV
Tom Vlaemynck of Tomato Masters under the panels in the pilot trial in his tomato greenhouse.
© Cooperatie Hoogstraten CV
Voltiris' patented spectral filtering technology enables growers to generate renewable energy inside greenhouses without loss of PAR-light. By selectively filtering out excess heat radiation while allowing the essential growing light to pass through, Voltiris not only powers the energy transition of greenhouses, but also improves the indoor growing climate.
The pilot project, where for the first time in Belgium solar panels have been integrated into a greenhouse (instead of in the greenhouse roof), is the result of a collaboration between Coöperatie Hoogstraten, Proefcentrum Hoogstraten, Tomeco, Tomato Masters, and Voltiris.
As a major member of Tomeco, Belgium's largest tomato cooperative, TomatoMasters has chosen to install several lines of Voltiris' modules in its recently built greenhouse extension. Besides the value of renewable energy, TomatoMasters is keen to investigate the potential positive effects of Voltiris' modules in reducing peak leaf temperatures.
© Cooperatie Hoogstraten CV
Following installations at Max Schwarz AG (CH), Orticola Bassi (CH) and CATE (FR) last year, four more demonstration projects will follow. In Netherlands, Lingezegen Energy, an 80-hectare cooperative of forward-thinking growers is on a clear mission: to fully electrify their greenhouses and eliminate carbon emissions. Achieving that vision requires reliable, large-scale access to solar energy—and Voltiris provides the key to unlocking the untapped potential of their 800,000 m² of greenhouse surface. The current demonstration is a critical first step, laying the groundwork for a 1-hectare installation planned in 2026 as part of the broader MOOI consortium project.
Switzerland: Imhof Bio
Imhof Bio, a committed organic grower of herbs and vegetables, Imhof Bio aims to make its operations as sustainable as possible. With their first installation of Voltiris modules, they are exploring how on-site energy generation can support that goal and help them reduce their dependence on the grid. In addition to clean power, they see potential in the system's heat-reduction effect to minimize the use of shading screens and further optimize greenhouse conditions.
BioVerbeek (Netherlands)
A pioneer in sustainable organic vegetable cultivation, Dutch organic greenhouse company BioVerbeek has followed Voltiris' journey with keen interest from the very beginning. Seeing the technology evolve from an intriguing concept to a proven, sustainable solution, the Verbeek brothers decided to install a first system to evaluate its fit with their greenhouse operations and explore its potential for larger-scale adoption. BioVerbeek is part of Harvest House, representing 1'100 hectares of greenhouse cultivation.
Division Q / Koppert Cress (Netherlands)
As the innovation arm of the world-renowned Koppert Cress, Division Q is one of the global leaders in greenhouse innovation. "Their adoption of Voltiris' technology provides a strong signal towards broader market acceptance", the Voltiris team shares proudly. Division Q aims to investigate Voltiris' heat-reducing capabilities in their innovation greenhouse before applying the technology at larger scale in their production facilities.
"The recent wave of demonstration projects highlights our ability to execute swiftly across multiple sites in Europe", the Voltiris team says. "Thanks to strong preparation and a seasoned operations team, all installations were completed on-time and to satisfaction, earning praise from the involved growers for the teams' effective performance and clear communication."
For severals of the installations, Voltiris could count on support from its partner Horconex, a greenhouse builder from The Netherlands. "These projects mark a turning point," said Nicolas Weber, CEO and co-founder of Voltiris. "We're demonstrating our solution with some of the most influential growers in the industry—proof that we're not just ready to scale, we're already doing it."
Read more about Voltiris's plans here, which recently also received a grant for a major innovation project in the Netherlands. The goal is to replace the CHP with an electrified total solution.
For more information:
Voltiris
kaz.vermeer@voltiris.com
www.voltiris.com