February 19, 2026
The construction of Solar park Zuidvelde (part of TPSolar*) in the municipality of Noordenveld has been completed. At the end of December, the electrical connection was put into operation and the solar park officially started generating sustainable electricity. Construction was completed in approximately six months, with nearly 77,000 solar panels installed. This makes Solar park Zuidvelde TPSolar’s eleventh solar park and the largest project the company has realised to date. A festive, official opening will follow in June.
Green energy with an eye for landscape and biodiversity
The design of Solar park Zuidvelde took animals and existing greenery in the area into account. The solar park is located in an open, large-scale agricultural landscape that has been designated by the province as a potential habitat for farmland birds. That is why the design specifically looked at how the solar park could contribute to the living environment of species such as the partridge and the skylark. The plan was drawn up in close collaboration with Grauwe Kiekendief – Kenniscentrum Akkervogels (GKA).
What sets Solar park Zuidvelde apart is its strong focus on ecology, biodiversity and integration into the landscape. The design includes kilometres of flower-rich field margins, beetle banks and scrub. In total, more than 50,000 new plants and trees will be planted.
In addition, wide rows of up to five metres (approximately twice as wide as usual) have been used in large parts of the solar park, and a considerable part of the site remains completely free of solar panels. This creates an open area between Solar park Zuidvelde and an adjacent solar park, measuring six football pitches in size, specially designed as a habitat for farmland birds. This approach is rare on this scale for solar parks in the Netherlands. The wide green strips not only provide natural screening for the solar park, but also enhance biodiversity in the area.
Contribution to energy targets
Solar park Zuidvelde makes an important contribution to the municipality of Noordenveld’s ambition to be completely climate neutral by 2040. The solar park has a capacity of 50 megawatt peak (MWp). To give an indication: this is equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 15,000 average Dutch households. In other words, what is consumed in electricity during the TT in Assen over several days, Solar park Zuidvelde produces in less than 24 hours.
Preview: energy storage at Solar park Zuidvelde
TPSolar intends to install an energy storage system (a battery) at Solar park Zuidvelde. This will enable solar energy generated to be stored temporarily and used at a later time, for example when demand for electricity is high or the supply of solar energy is lower. In this way, the project contributes to a more stable and flexible electricity grid.
At the time of the permit application, energy storage was not yet a standard part of this type of project. This has changed significantly in recent years. Almost all new solar parks are now equipped with batteries to better cope with the increasing pressure on the electricity grid. During the construction of Solar park Zuidvelde, TPSolar already took this into account by keeping space free. This allows the battery to be placed within the solar park without any additional impact on the environment.
Social added value
Local residents and other stakeholders have been closely involved in the development of the solar park from the outset. During several information meetings and consultations, they were able to contribute their ideas about the location, design and integration into the landscape.
In addition to this involvement, the local community will also benefit financially. An area fund will be set up to support local initiatives and strengthen the social impact of the project.
Collaboration
The project is financed by ING and is majority owned by Blue Elephant Energy. TPSolar is responsible for the development, construction and future operation of the solar park.
Tour and opening of Solar park Zuidvelde
At the end of September 2025, TPSolar organised a tour of Solar park Zuidvelde for representatives of the municipality of Noordenveld. During this tour, the various phases of construction were clearly visible. On Thursday, 4 June 2026, Zonnepark Zuidvelde will reopen its doors. Local residents and other interested parties are welcome to come and take a look at the solar park on that day.
* Solar park Zuidvelde consists of three separate parts developed by three initiators: Chint Solar, TPSolar and Ankehaar Solar. In 2021, the municipality of Noordenveld commissioned them to work together and to draw up a single integrated plan and design for the three solar park projects. The municipality saw opportunities for nature and ecology, multiple use of space and grid connection options at the solar park. The TPSolar part of the project has now been completed. Chint Solar and Ankehaar Solar are working individually on the realisation of their projects.