Terminal operator Royal Vopak will be the first to experiment with solar cells on the roof of one of its oil tanks in the port of Rotterdam. If it proves a success, it is going to apply the film to more tanks. The AD writes.
Last Monday, the first solar cells were installed on the roof of an oil tank at the terminal in Vlaardingen. This was a trial, energy coordinator Khalid Saleh told AD.nl. According to the newspaper, it took him months to convince his colleagues of the idea of using the foil.
Vopak is the world's largest independent tank storage company and currently very much engaged in finding other sources of energy. Besides the solar roof on its oil tank, the company is also going to build a large solar park in Eemshaven in Groningen.
Less explosive
The tank the foil is applied to contains edible oils such as sunflower oil and palm oil for use in peanut butter. Because this is less explosive than the oil in other Vopak tanks, it was easier to apply for a permit for this trial. "Vopak will only do it if it is completely safe," Saleh told AD. "It is also still possible to apply the solar cells on the sides of the tanks, as the surfaces are huge."
Foil
The foil was originally developed by Helianthos, reports De Ingenieur, but that company was already acquired by HyET Solar in 2012. The foil produces less energy than conventional solar cells made of silica but can be used on multiple, non-planar surfaces, for example. For example, the foil has already been tested on a refugee tent. The film is also a lot lighter and therefore easier to install. At the factory, the solar film is made on a continuous roll-to-roll process, which is relatively cheap. On AD.nl, manufacturer Hyet let it be known that foil is not as heavy on the structure, is easier to lift upwards and can also be easily shaped to the roof. For Hyet too, the foil on Vopak's oil tank constitutes an ultimate test. It will have to show how well the foil and adhesive can withstand harsh weather conditions.
Vopak will use the energy output, a power of eight to 10 kilowatt hours, mainly for pumping oil.
Source: AD.nl/DeIngenieur.nl
