"We sense that they are specialized entrepreneurs".
Turbel is a Brussels-based company founded in 1986 and specialized in the production and distribution of labels and office supplies. After installing photovoltaic panels in 2014, they decided to call on Soltis in 2019 for their transition to LED and in 2020 to complete the existing photovoltaic installation. Aurélie Cuvelier, CEO of Turbel, kindly agreed to meet with us to tell us about installations carried out with Soltis.
How did you hear about Soltis?
A.C: We were approached spontaneously and proactively in 2012 about the solar panel project.
What service(s) have you used Soltis for?
A.C: For photovoltaic panels in 2014 that Soltis financed via the third-party investor system. Then in 2019 for LED relamping in the hall and warehouse. Finally, to complete the existing photovoltaic installation, we called on Soltis again in 2020 to install carports and add panels to the roof.
What convinced you to work with Soltis?
A.C: We were already thinking of investing in green energy (we had also thought of wind power, but it wasn't possible because of the proximity of the airport), so we were basically in favor of the photovoltaic project. What's more, since we're a production company, our machines require a lot of energy.
What really convinced us was the third-party investor .
Why did you choose the third-party investor system and what are its advantages?
A.C : We found it very practical not to devote our credit lines to an activity outside our core business. What's more, it enabled us to outsource the administrative costs associated with financing such an installation.
What percentage of your consumption covered the initial plant's output?
A.C: The initial installation covered about 1/3 of our electricity consumption.
Our annual bills amount to around 250,000 kWh. It should be noted that 50,000 kWh are fed back into the grid every year, because this is electricity produced when the machines are not running (e.g. at weekends). To sum up, our total annual consumption is around 250,000 kWh, with 100,000 kWh from self-consumption.
Why add photovoltaic panels in 2020?
A.C.: At Turbel, "green" is one of our core values, so we were keen to further reduce our ecological footprint. What's more, our business consumes a lot of electricity, so it made sense to install additional panels.
In keeping with our ecological approach, we plan to install electric car terminals in the future.
Why switch to LED?
A.C : On the one hand, because most of the neon lights were starting to fail (they dated back to 2005). What's more, LED technology provides better light output for the machines, and our business requires high-quality light: maximum light output is needed during printing for color control.
By installing LEDs, we also wanted to reduce our energy footprint.
Are you satisfied with the LED installation? Have you noticed the difference in your electricity bill?
A.C: We don't know precisely, because the electricity bill is only one part of the source of electricity consumption. That said, LEDs last a long time, and the quality and efficiency of LED lamps are much better than those of neon.
How did the installation and communication with Soltis go?
A.C: There was a slight wait for installation, but otherwise customer support is fast and efficient.
In a few words, why would you recommend Soltis?
A.C: For the third-party investor system, which is a great plan if you want to reduce your electricity consumption without dealing with red tape.
What's more, Soltis is a Belgian SME and we feel it's important to support local players.
Finally, for the relationship and follow-up with Christophe Jonlet and Philippe Rochez. You can tell they're specialized contractors, and their work is top-notch.
Discover the results of our installations at Turbel
Interested in installing solar panels or LEDs? Contact us !
