De Heus and Bel Ga develop the largest solar rooftop project in 2023

On 2 March 2023, De Heus, Bel Ga and Green Roof signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aimed to establish a partnership and cooperation to develop a 20 MWp solar rooftop portfolio for De Heus and Bel Ga across 19 provinces in Vietnam in the next two years.

Known for their green ambitions and commitments towards sustainable agriculture, De Heus and Bel Ga aim to power all of their facilities with solar energy. The two companies have selected Green Roof as their preferred partner, which will invest in solar rooftop systems and manage their operations and maintenance. Daniel Stork, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the International Cooperation Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) were also in attendance at the MoU signing ceremony.

The installation of the solar rooftop portfolio accelerates De Heus and Bel Ga’s efforts to contribute to the low-carbon transformation and sustainable development of Vietnam's agricultural industry, as well as its net-zero commitment by 2050. With a capacity of up to 20MWp, this portfolio will cover 30 factories, genetics farms and hatchery locations of De Heus and Bel Ga in Vietnam, making it the largest of its kind (1) in 2023 in the country.

Scheduled to commence construction in Q2 of 2023 and complete in 2024, the targeted portfolio is projected to generate more than 28 million kWh of clean energy and prevent more than 22,500 tons of carbon emissions each year. This is comparable to the annual carbon dioxide absorption capacity of 1 million mature trees, or offsetting the emission 5,000 cars per year.

Johan van den Ban, CEO of De Heus Vietnam, shared: “At De Heus, we are deeply passionate about contributing to a better and more sustainable future for Vietnam. This partnership and the development of the solar rooftop portfolio for our operations in Vietnam is one of the testaments to our commitment to drive real changes and contribute to a more sustainable food value chain as a leading animal feed producer. We look forward to its positive impact to our environment and society."

In addition to this initiative, he confirmed that De Heus would expand and investigate other means to promote renewable energy such as green electricity storage through a battery pilot project and a floating solar installation on fish and shrimp ponds. He also stated De Heus’ willingness to participate in the Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) once it is issued by the government. “We see it as a crucial step towards realizing De Heus' ambition of maximizing the adoption of clean energy,” said Mr. van den Ban.

To promote sustainability, De Heus has undertaken a series of strategic measures that encompass a wide array of sustainable practices. Besides developing the solar rooftop portfolio mentioned above, sourcing sustainable raw materials, stimulating local raw material production, optimising logistics, and efficiently managing plastic waste are other visionary steps towards reducing their carbon footprint. Through implementing these initiatives, De Heus demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering a more sustainable supply chain, which is guided by its global overarching sustainability programme, Responsible Feeding.

Rick van der Linden, General Director of Bel Ga and Genetics Division Director of De Heus Vietnam, expressed his expectation for this project. “This year marks the 10-year milestone of Bel Ga in Vietnam. In those years, we have dedicated ourselves to philanthropic activities and giving back to the local community while doing business. But we have realised that our responsibility goes beyond just that. We believe we must contribute to environmental sustainability. This project marks a significant moment in Bel Ga's sustainability journey, as we start adopting renewable energy strategically, which demonstrates our commitment to sustainable development and responsible business practices.”

According to Mr. Gabor Fluit, General Director of De Heus Asia, the project will meet 20-25% of the electricity demand that factories and production facilities of De Heus and Bel Ga are using. After completing the project, De Heus will expand cooperation with farms and aquaculture farms to help farmers apply attic solar electricity. For large farms, if it is the solar rooftop system, the electricity produced can satisfy the farm's needs with ease.

De Heus LLC (“De Heus”) is a subsidiary of De Heus Animal Nutrition, specialising in animal feed production. Entered Vietnam in 2008, De Heus has achieved rapid growth and is now a leading animal feed producer in the local market thanks to its over 100 years of global experience in animal nutrition. De Heus is committed to providing high-quality, innovative and sustainable livestock and aqua feed solutions and establishing a holistic value chain ecosystem for independent farmers.

Bel Ga LLC (“Bel Ga”) specialises in producing and providing high-quality poultry day-old chicks and day-old layers. Established in 2013 in Vietnam, Bel Ga has quickly become a trusted name in the poultry genetics sector thanks to the partnership of its two parent companies De Heus Animal Nutrition and Belgabroed. Belgabroed is the leading producer of premium day-old chicks, day-old layers, and hatching eggs. With over 80 years of experience, Belgabroed is one of the major players in Western Europe.

CN Green Roof Asia (“Green Roof”) is a joint venture between Climate Investor One (CIO) and Norfund, set up to invest in commercial and industrial (C&I) solar projects in South-East Asia, particularly in Vietnam and Indonesia. CIO is an EU-sponsored investment fund for renewable energy infrastructure projects in emerging markets, while Norfund is an investment fund owned by the Norwegian Government designed to support Norwegian development policy.