BIC shows how business parks can be sustainably optimised

The bottleneck for business parks is the so-called split incentive. The owner of the area invests in sustainable installations, while the tenants benefit through lower energy bills. For many owners, it is therefore not attractive to become more sustainable.

BIC Utility

In 2018, BOM and EQUANS (formerly ENGIE) established an energy company for BIC that benefits all stakeholders: BIC Utility, a so-called Energy Service Company (ESCo). BOM and EQUANS jointly invested in the construction and maintenance of the installations. BIC Utility recoups its investments over the total lifespan of the installations.

BIC Utility provides Brainport Industries Campus and its tenants with electricity, water, heat, and cold, and special facilities such as purified water and compressed air until at least 2033. The tenants are thus supported in their sustainability ambitions and pay BIC Utility a monthly fee based on their usage.

BOM contributed its expertise to develop the proper structure of the energy company BIC Utility and to ensure good cooperation between the parties involved.

First gas-free industrial campus

A large hall on the BIC site forms the heart of BIC’s sustainable character. From there, all the energy flows and other facilities needed to operate at BIC originate. The central operates as much as possible on energy from 7,000 solar panels. One of the largest geothermal energy systems in the Netherlands ensures that the large industrial spaces are heated and cooled without gas. Thanks to the collaboration between BOM and EQUANS, BIC is even the first gas-free industrial campus in the Netherlands.

Solution for grid congestion

Efforts are underway to expand BIC’s utilities with additional solar panels and a battery for energy storage. This allows peak moments in demand for electricity to be managed with previously stored (self-generated) power through smart energy management. This keeps the required connection capacity for all BIC tenants limited, especially when compared to a conventional industrial estate with separate connections for each customer. BIC Utility ensures that BIC functions as a so-called Energy Hub in this way. This helps to prevent grid congestion and also reduces connection and transport costs of electricity, for example.

Attractive to international players

The efforts of BOM and EQUANS not only help the existing companies with their sustainability ambitions. The collaboration also contributes to the campus's growth as an innovative hub in high-tech manufacturing. The sustainable character acts as a magnet for parties that have sustainability as a core value. For this reason, high-tech supplier KMWE chose BIC. The appeal also extends across the border: several international companies also opted for a location at BIC. BOM plays a crucial role in attracting international parties.

Future

BOM has the ambition to realize more industrial ESCos. With the development of BIC Utility, BOM gained a lot of knowledge and expertise, which can support developers, installers, and municipalities in structuring and financing Energy Hubs. Therefore, we are an interesting partner for other business parks that want to develop into an Energy Hub or want to free up connection capacity by setting up group connections and flexibility. Together, we look at how best to make use of the existing connection.
 

Do you want to know more about this showcase or make your own innovative energy or sustainability project succeed? Contact Ernst via the contact details below.