Winclove Probiotics

Winclove Probiotics researches, develops and produces high-quality probiotics for the international market. Founded in 1991, the company is a certified B Corporation with a B Impact score of 103. In 2023, Winclove moved to a new, sustainable facility in Amsterdam North: a purpose-built building housing a state-of-the-art production facility, five laboratories and office space, equipped with solar panels on the roof and facade.

During construction, it became clear that the electricity grid could not provide a connection at all. A temporary workaround followed: seasonal capacity, with more power available in summer than in winter. That turned out to be the worst possible fit, as Winclove’s production peaks in the colder months.

Temporary measures such as rented batteries and a generator offered some relief, but no structural path forward. They also did not align with the company’s sustainability ambitions. Winclove wanted more control over its own energy supply, maximum use of the solar energy it generates, and less dependence on the grid.

“Energy is one of the most tangible places where we can act on our sustainability goals. Our energy contract was coming to an end and we were on a fixed tariff, so this was the right moment to look at what a dynamic contract could do in combination with storage and an EMS.” Esther Lammers, Head of Facility & Hospitality at Winclove Probiotics

Together with installation partner Klomp Energie, we designed a system that aligns energy storage, generation and consumption. The limited and seasonal grid capacity was not the problem to solve around — it was the starting point for the design.

The realised system consists of:

• 1,075 kWh battery storage (five units of 215 kWh)
• 500 kW inverter capacity (five inverters of 100 kW)
• Solar PV on roof and facade
• Tibo EMS

In winter, Winclove’s production is at its highest while the grid offers the least capacity. That combination is demanding but predictable: you know it’s coming weeks in advance. The EMS continuously plans 48 hours ahead using weather forecasts, consumption profiles and grid data, so the battery is charged and ready when the demand is there.

The collaboration came together through VEBAN, the local business association in Amsterdam North, where both Winclove and Klomp Energie are based. Tibo provided the EMS layer after asset installation, coordinating battery, solar and grid within the constraints of the existing building infrastructure.

After installation, Tibo Energy’s controls the DC chargers, batteries and solar generation in real time, balancing charging demand, storage and generation within the limits of the grid connection

“What makes this project special is that Winclove generates a substantial amount of solar energy — including through facade panels. Combined with the battery storage, all of that solar energy can be stored and self-consumed. The EMS makes sure we stay within the grid connection at all times. And because Winclove has ambitions to grow, the system has already been designed with future expansion in mind.”

— Paul van Hees, Klomp Energie

Winclove Probiotics now operates within its existing, limited grid connection without requiring a grid upgrade. Real-time insight into consumption, storage and system performance is available through the Tibo portal. In daily practice, this delivers:

• Greater control over its own energy consumption
• Optimal use of the solar energy generated on site
• Absorbing seasonal production peaks without depending on grid reinforcement
• Reduced energy costs
• A foundation for further electrification and growth

Looking ahead, Winclove Probiotics is also exploring how it can support other businesses in the area in managing grid congestion as a local player.