Damen Shipyards Group is having solar panels installed at several of its shipyards in the Netherlands, equating to 12MW of capacity.
Company project manager Gerard Kornet said: “At Damen, we always take a long-term view.
“It’s part of our culture as a family company, we want to ensure the sustainability of the business for the next generation.”
The project will see 42,000 photovoltaic modules installed on the rooftops of production facilities at eight Damen shipyards in the Netherlands (pictured).
The first yard to be installed with the panels is Damen Shipyards Gorinchem West.
Damen Dredging Equipment Nijkerk and Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld will have panels installed by the end of August.
By the end of the year Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam and Amels will also follow, with Damen Verolme, Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam and Damen Shipyards Gorinchem East both undergoing installation before the end of 2020.
Collectively, the panels will cover some 75,000 square metres and will generate 13% of the energy required by Damen’s annual operations in the country.
Kornet adds: “We are further developing the programme with the intention of assessing the viability of rolling out more solar panels – as well as wind energy – to our other shipyards, not only in the Netherlands, but also internationally.
“Wherever we are working in the world, we are committed to making sure our operations are as clean as can be.”