In September 2024, Alfen moved into its state-of-the-art new facility in Almere, which serves as both the company’s headquarters and the newly designed production site for Alfen transformer substations. As the client for the development, Alfen had a unique opportunity to integrate its innovative energy technologies throughout the 24,000-square-meter building—from smart battery systems and transformer substations to over 100 EV charging stations in the parking area.

A leader in Energy Technology

With 90 years of expertise, Alfen is a pan-European manufacturer at the forefront of the energy transition. The company’s strong growth over recent decades has required continuous optimization of its organization, processes, and production environment. 

When the modernization of the transformer substation production lines coincided with the opportunity to construct a new facility, it was only natural for Alfen to deploy its own energy solutions to create a progressive, energy-neutral campus that brings together the company’s headquarters, R&D centre, Alfen Academy, and three production facilities.  

The Challenge

According to Operations Manager Aalt Neijmeijer, the new facility is the first step toward creating a virtual energy hub. The sustainable energy generated by the building is intended not only for its own operations but also for Alfen’s other facilities on the business park in Almere.

Aalt explains: “The vision I have always had is to connect all our buildings. Through a single grid connection code—the EAN code—we have now arranged this with the grid operator. We were one of the first in The Netherlands to do so. The starting point for the energy systems was future-proofing: sufficient capacity for growth and full compliance with the latest standards for energy- and climate-neutral buildings. Ultimately, we want to create an integrated system across all our sites, with the goal of avoiding additional pressure on the electricity grid and becoming as self-sufficient as possible.” 

The Approach

The absence of grid congestion during the construction project provided Alfen with the opportunity to design and implement all systems optimally for a future in which grid constraints are expected to become a reality. 

“We covered the entire roof with more than 6,000 solar panels. Through 18 inverters, these are connected to three Alfen battery systems. Together, they form a central buffer between the solar panels, three Alfen transformer substations, over 100 Alfen charging stations, and the electrical systems serving the offices and production environment. This gives us a set of standalone smart energy systems. The next step is an overarching control system that centrally manages everything.” 

The Result

The Almere campus is much more than a headquarters or manufacturing location. It is a real-world showcase of how organizations can transform their energy supply. The same solutions Alfen develops for customers are deployed on-site every day to maximize renewable energy use, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance security of supply. 

Key outcomes include: 

• Approximately 80% of electricity demand covered by self-generated renewable energy, supported by on-site solar generation and battery storage.
• Approximately 50% reduction in energy costs through intelligent energy management and self-consumption.
• Reduced pressure on the electricity grid during morning and evening peak periods, helping to alleviate network congestion.

With this integrated energy infrastructure, Alfen demonstrates that the energy transition is not simply about adopting new technologies, it is about embracing a smarter, cleaner, and more resilient way of managing energy. 

Further Development 

Like many manufacturers, energy independence is strategically important to Alfen. The next step will focus on optimising energy management across the site, creating greater synergy between generation, storage, consumption, and grid interaction.  

Want to Learn More? 

Would you like to learn more about Smart Grid Solutions, Energy Storage Solutions, or EV  Charging Solutions? 
Visit: Alfen – Power to Adapt 
Or contact us via: Contact | Alfen.