Belgoprocess nuclear site gets world's largest solar farm with micro-inverters

The world's largest micro-inverter solar farm is being built at the NIRAS-Belgoprocess nuclear site in Dessel, Flanders. The first phase of the project is currently underway, with almost 4,000 solar panels being installed on the site.

Solar panels are usually connected in a string, with the energy they produce going to a single inverter. While this setup is cheaper and easier to maintain, it also creates a single point of failure. If one solar panel breaks down, the entire array is shut down.

This is why Belgoprocess, the company responsible for storing and processing Belgium's radioactive waste, is opting for solar panels, each containing its own micro-inverter. This would significantly reduce the risk of fire in Belgoprocess' sensitive environment.

"By working with micro-inverters, we can keep the overall voltage lower and greatly reduce the risk of fire compared to ordinary solar panels," explains Wim Van Laer, General Manager of Belgoprocess. "This is a little more expensive, but when it comes to safety, the extra cost is certainly justified."

"By working with micro-inverters, we can keep the overall voltage lower and greatly reduce the risk of fire"

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2,000 MWh per year

The first two phases of the project, carried out in collaboration with installation company Earth and manufacturer Enphase, are already underway: 4,000 solar panels are being installed on several buildings at the nuclear waste processing site. They are expected to generate more than 2,000 MWh per year.

"That's about 15 percent of our energy needs," says Van Laer. "On hot summer days with lots of sunshine, it will even cover our entire daily consumption."

When the first two phases are completed, the solar panels will save 48 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. The project will also enable Belgoprocess to comply with Flemish regulations on solar panels for 2030. Over time, the project will expand to 12,000 to 16,000 solar panels.

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