Responding to fluctuating energy prices with continuous cooling demand
Harva International is a wholesaler of fresh fruit and vegetables, based in Waddinxveen, the Netherlands. The company operates from a refrigerated warehouse of approximately 15,000 m², where products are kept at temperature around the clock before being distributed to wholesalers, supermarket chains and cruise ships. Cooling is therefore a continuous item on the electricity bill.
On the energy market, prices fluctuate by the hour. Harva wanted to leverage those fluctuations without affecting cooling or operations. That requires on-site flexibility that did not previously exist: a buffer that allows energy to be purchased during hours when the price is favorable, and deployed during hours when the price is high or consumption peaks.
Creating flexibility with two batteries and the Tibo EMS
Together with Ecopowercell, a 466 kWh battery storage system was installed at the Waddinxveen site, split across two RCT Power CESS200 units. Ecopowercell handled the hardware and installation. Tibo Energy determines how the battery behaves: when to charge, when to discharge and at what power level.
The installation consists of:
- Two RCT Power CESS200 systems with liquid-cooled LFP batteries
- 200 kW power and 466 kWh storage capacity (2× 100 kW / 233 kWh)
- IP54 housing for outdoor installation
- Tibo EMS for real-time control and market optimization
The Tibo EMS determines when the battery charges and discharges, and at what power level. It looks 48 hours ahead based on dynamic energy prices, measured consumption profiles on-site and weather influences. Charging happens during hours with the most favorable price, discharging at moments when the price is high or on-site consumption demands it. The optimization runs automatically — Harva does not need to intervene manually.
Lower energy costs without disrupting
Since commissioning in March 2026, the battery storage has been running within the existing grid connection. In daily operations, this means:
- Lower energy costs as purchasing shifts to hours with the most favorable market price
- Stored energy is deployed by Harva itself during hours with high prices or high own demand
- Control runs automatically via the Tibo EMS — manual intervention is not required
- Prepared for further expansions and energy management strategies
The installation is built around liquid-cooled LFP batteries, modularly expandable in capacity, and controlled by software that can adapt to a changing energy market without requiring any hardware changes. This keeps the system viable as Harva’s operations change or as the market evolves. And because the battery charges at the most favorable tariff hours, consumption aligns with the moments when the grid has the most capacity.
About Harva International
Harva International is an independent wholesaler, importer and exporter of fresh fruit and vegetables, founded in 1988 and based in Waddinxveen. The company operates from a temperature-controlled warehouse of approximately 15,000 m² and delivers mixed pallets and assembled orders to wholesalers, supermarket chains and cruise ships. A large part of the products comes from dedicated growers who produce specifically for Harva, supplemented by an international supplier network. Harva is BRC and COC certified.
About Ecopowercell
Ecopowercell is a supplier and installer of energy storage systems for the commercial and industrial market. The company installs battery storage at business locations and guides customers from advice to installation and monitoring.
