With a broad range of products for the catering industry, Kreko supplies businesses with everything they need for food and beverages. However, a significant logistical challenge arose when the Pijnacker branch faced a capacity issue following a merger with another location. The power supply was already at its maximum limit, and expansion options were restricted. The solution came in the form of Dawsongroup's SolarStore—an innovative solar-powered freezer container.
"We were urgently looking for a temporary freezing solution and found Dawsongroup through an online search," says branch manager Kevin Poldervaart. "They visited our site immediately and recommended the SolarStore. I had never heard of solar-powered containers before, but for us, it turned out to be a perfect solution. Like many other companies, we struggle with limited power capacity, so this presented a great opportunity."
Within two weeks, two 20ft PolarStores were delivered and stocked with frozen bread and snacks. "The fast delivery was a major advantage for us," says Poldervaart.
Carefree freezing and power return
After a year in operation, Kreko is highly satisfied. "When you need additional cooling or freezing capacity but have reached your power limit, you face a real challenge," says Poldervaart. "Expanding power capacity takes time and is often complicated. Thanks to the SolarStore, we now have the necessary storage, and as an added benefit, we even feed power back into the grid. That wasn't our original goal, but it's certainly a welcome bonus."
The prominent structure with solar panels has not gone unnoticed. "It's quite a large frame on top of the container, so people are curious about it," Poldervaart says with a laugh. "Fortunately, all the feedback has been positive. People see it as a smart, eco-friendly solution."
With plans for renovations on the horizon, Kreko is open to further collaboration. "We will need even more temporary storage capacity, so we will definitely consider this solution again."
From innovation to standard solution
The SolarStore's history dates back five years. "We were exploring ways to integrate solar energy into our refrigerated containers and connected with Independent Energy in Haarlem," says Jan de Waard, Operations Manager at Dawsongroup. "They had developed a solar panel frame that fit perfectly on the roof of our PolarStore. After extensive testing, we were able to offer Kreko the ideal solution."
According to De Waard, the SolarStore generates an average of 2 kWh per hour, with peaks of up to 8-9 kWh on sunny days. "At Kreko, we quickly realized more power was being produced than consumed, so we added a second PolarStore. After the summer, we integrated a 20 kWh battery pack into the system to store excess energy. Since then, the containers have been running largely independently, leading to significant cost savings. Even without sunlight, the freezer containers can operate for around ten hours. That's a major benefit."
Dawsongroup sees significant potential for further expansion of the SolarStore but emphasizes that its application depends on the type of business. "This solution is particularly valuable for companies handling high-margin products or those where supply security is critical. If the power goes out tomorrow, this freezer will keep running."
A market first
According to De Waard, Kreko is a perfect example of the SolarStore's impact. "They went from having no power supply for their freezers to supplying energy back to the grid. I'm quite proud of that because this is truly a first in the market. Nobody else has this."
Dawsongroup is now working on further expansions, including a recent rollout in Nigeria. "If we're already facing power capacity issues in the Netherlands, this challenge is even greater in many African countries. This technology provides stable cold storage in an unstable energy market."
For more information:
Dawsongroup Benelux
Jelle Witjens (sales representative)
Tel: +31 06-12200660
jwitjens@dawsongroup.nl
Jan de Waard
Tel: +31 06-21521137
jdewaard@dawsongroup.nl
www.dawsongroup.nl
Kevin Poldervaart
Kreko
Tel: +31 06-29028792
k.poldervaart@kreko.nl