Case Study: Hoogvliet Supermarket — Utrecht, the Netherlands

 

 

The Challenge
The old flower auction hall on Steenovenweg in Utrecht — a listed monument dating back to 1954 — was scheduled for a new life as a Hoogvliet supermarket and a Gamma home improvement store. But transforming a historic building into a modern retail space came with a unique challenge: how do you make a monumental structure energy-efficient without compromising its architectural integrity?

The goal was ambitious — to achieve the highest possible energy rating and become the most energy-efficient monumental building in the Netherlands. Insulation, a large battery, and an advanced energy management system were all part of the plan. But the roof presented the biggest hurdle.

The Roof Challenge
The supermarket sits beneath a barrel-shaped (curved vaulted) roof — a distinctive architectural feature of the former auction hall. Conventional rigid solar panels simply couldn't be installed on such a curved surface without expensive custom racking systems. And with the building's monumental status, any solution had to be non-invasive — no drilling, no structural alterations, and no visual disruption.

The Solution: Peakup Power
After a thorough site assessment, Peakup Power's lightweight flexible solar modules were selected as the ideal solution. Here's why:
Perfect fit for curved surfaces — Our flexible modules conformed effortlessly to the barrel-shaped roof contour, following the natural arc of the historic structure without any gaps or misalignment.
Direct adhesive mounting — A comprehensive evaluation of the roof's drainage and waterproofing confirmed that our modules could be bonded directly onto the existing roof membrane. This eliminated the need for heavy mounting frames, custom racking, or any roof penetration — preserving the monument's integrity while drastically reducing installation time and material costs.
Ultra-lightweight design — The minimal roof load ensured no additional structural reinforcement was required, a critical factor for a building of this age and heritage status.
Seamless aesthetics — The sleek, low-profile appearance of the modules blended discreetly with the roof surface, maintaining the visual character of the landmark building.

The Results
✅ A+++++ Energy Label — the highest possible rating, making this the most energy-efficient monumental building in the Netherlands
✅ 100% roof coverage on the curved surface — something rigid panels could never achieve
✅ Significant cost savings — no custom racking, no structural reinforcement, no roof penetrations
✅ Fast installation — adhesive mounting dramatically reduced project timeline
✅ Preserved heritage — the building's monumental character remained untouched

The Link
Peakup Power — through its distributor Proxables — was the solar supplier for this landmark project. The lightweight flexible solar panels played an essential role in achieving the A+++++ energy label, powering the Hoogvliet supermarket with clean, silent, off-grid-ready energy while respecting the building's historic legacy.