POP has increased the number of photovoltaic panels installed at its Nivelles site to over 1,000 further demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
Sustainability is part of POP’s DNA. It is no coincidence that in 2023 the company maintained its EcoVadis score – the global standard for CSR assessments – and won gold for the second consecutive year.
In terms of energy, POP Solutions began focusing on renewables in 2014 by installing 320 250W photovoltaic panels above the POP Factory offices, with a total output of 80 kilowatts peak (kWp). In 2023, well aware that businesses have a fundamental role to play in tackling current climate challenges, POP wanted to significantly boost its investment in renewable energies. The aim is to maximise the generation of photovoltaic solar energy on the 8,000 square metres of its building in Nivelles, most of which comprises production workshops (metal, cardboard, plexiglass and digital printing).
To deliver this photovoltaic upgrade, POP called in Soltis, a leading Brussels-based service provider in energy efficiency, with 15 years of experience. “We’ve optimised the solar generation capacity. In addition to the 320 existing panels, 724 new 435W panels were fitted on the roof of the workshops and 36 425W panels above the head office,” explains Soltis CEO Philippe Rochez. Installation began on 18 July and ended up taking a month after being delayed by bad weather.
Total capacity is now almost 400 kWp, with an output of 360 MWh per year, equivalent to the consumption of 90 four-person households. “The 1,080 panels now cover 75% of the electricity needs of our Nivelles production unit,” says Thierry Pauwels, Sustainability Manager at POP Solutions.