Institutional property investors are increasingly focusing on sustainability as a means of enhancing and stabilising the value of their assets. Alongside, international environmental and social standards (ESG) are playing a growing role in shaping investment decisions. This trend affects both residential and logistics properties, which account for the majority of total investment.
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This is according to a survey conducted by Patrizia, which found that a full 85 percent of investors surveyed by the Augsburg-based property manager said they plan to invest more in sustainable buildings in future, or allocate additional funds to upgrading the energy efficiency of existing properties.
Solar power helps stabilise value
Together with solar project developer Goldbeck Solar and energy strategy specialist Sunrock, Patrizia has demonstrated how this can work in practice. The company manages large-scale warehouses in the Port of Rotterdam across a site covering 210,000 square metres – all topped with expansive flat roofs.
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The buildings are located on Maasvlakte, an artificial island created in the 1960s and extended between 2008 and 2013. To improve both the sustainability and long-term value of its logistics properties on the site, Patrizia had the roofs fitted with large photovoltaic arrays.
Wind load a challenge
The available roof space of 120,000 square metres of was sufficient for Goldbeck Solar and Sunrock to install solar modules with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts. “The size of the Maasvlakte solar project and its unique location made it an exciting endeavour for us,” says Michiel Vanhoutte, COO at Goldbeck Solar.
For the planners and installers at Goldbeck Solar, the project was no trivial matter. “Maasvlakte is located on the edge of the sea in a very exposed location with enormous wind loads,” explains Vanhoutte. “This made the installation quite complex and challenging.”
Solar output doubled
Installation took place while the logistics centre remained fully operational, requiring engineering teams from Goldbeck Solar and Sunrock to develop a carefully coordinated construction process that minimised disruption to tenants, all while keeping the project on schedule.
The final result speaks for itself, with solar systems that generate enough electricity to cover the annual consumption of some 8,000 Dutch households. With the new installations at Maasvlakte, Patrizia has doubled the installed PV capacity across its logistics portfolio, representing a clear step forward in meeting its sustainability goals. (su/tf)
