In the International Year of Cooperatives, Ecopower, Beauvent and Milcobel join hands for green power

In a powerful example of cooperation between citizen and company, three Belgian cooperatives have realized an ambitious solar energy project. Ecopower and Beauvent installed no fewer than 6,000 solar panels on the roofs of four production sites of dairy cooperative Milcobel in Bruges, Langemark, Kallo and Moorslede. The starting shot of the project was given in December 2024 at the Milcobel site in Bruges in the presence of the Bruges alderman for Energy Pablo Annys. Six months later, Langemark, the fourth and final location, was also equipped with solar panels.
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​These cooperative energy installations will save more than 35,000 tons of CO₂ over the next 25 years. That represents a significant step toward a low-carbon future. In this way, Milcobel, Ecopower, and Beauvent are jointly giving substance to the United Nations slogan for the International Year of Cooperatives 2025: “Cooperatives build a better world.”

Sustainable power for dairy production

The power generated is used locally and directly for Milcobel's production processes. With more than 4 million kWh per year, the equivalent of the annual consumption of some 1,100 Flemish families, the cooperative dairy company is significantly reducing its ecological footprint.
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​At the same time, Milcobel is thus complying on time with the Flemish PV obligation, which stipulates that companies with annual consumption above 1 GWh must have solar panels by April 2026. By cooperating with Ecopower and Beauvent, this obligation is not only fulfilled, but also supported by society.
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​Citizens investing with impact

The investment of more than 4 million euros was financed entirely with citizen capital by the cooperators of Ecopower and Beauvent. Anyone can become a shareholder in these energy cooperatives and contribute to a model where social justice and climate responsibility go hand in hand. Through their investments, citizens put their shoulders directly behind the energy transition and share in the proceeds. In this way, companies, governments and citizens can work together for sustainable energy facilities with maximum local added value. Investments in sustainable projects can be made through both cooperatives.
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"This project proves that cooperative entrepreneurship works - for people, for the climate, and for the economy," the three organizations involved echoed.

Peter Grugeon, CEO Milcobel: “Dairy production is energy-intensive by nature, which is precisely why this investment in solar energy is so important to Milcobel. Thanks to the installation of 6000 solar panels we generate a considerable part of our electricity needs. Together with Beauvent and Ecopower we are thus taking an important step towards making our dairy production even more sustainable. In the year of cooperatives, together we show that cooperative entrepreneurship really makes a difference."
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Greet De Gueldere, Board member Ecopower: "This solar energy project, a collaboration between three cooperatives, proves that citizens themselves want to participate in the realization of climate goals. The cooperative model makes it possible to achieve this in a democratic and socially just manner."

Frédéric Haghebaert, Director Beauvent: "The beauty of this project is that it shows how citizens are making a difference for local businesses through their cooperative. With installations at four Milcobel sites across Flanders, we are bringing renewable energy to the cooperators, close to home and with their support. In this way, together we make the energy transition visible and locally tangible."

Background information

Press Contacts

Ecopower

Beauvent

Milcobel

About the project partners

Milcobel, major cooperative player in the Belgian dairy industry

Milcobel unites 1500 dairy farmers. With products such as cheese, butter, milk powder, cream and whey, Milcobel supplies high-quality dairy products at home and abroad. The company is strongly committed to innovation and sustainability, as evidenced by this large-scale solar energy project that will further green their production processes. In this way, Milcobel is actively contributing to lower CO2 emissions and future-oriented dairy production.
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Ecopower, democratic project developer and power supplier

Ecopower was founded in 1991 and has since become an established project developer and power supplier in the Belgian energy landscape. The citizen cooperative has more than 250 large PV projects, 29 wind turbines and a heat network in its portfolio. These projects provide locally generated, affordable energy to civil society organizations, governments, businesses and more than 70,000 Ecopower members. Ecopower is committed to accelerating the energy transition with equal attention to ecology, economy and society. Thanks to the participatory model, Ecopower creates local added value and involvement of citizens in the energy transition.
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Beauvent, pioneer in civic cooperatives

Beauvent is a cooperative that directly engages citizens in the transition to renewable energy. They enable their cooperators to invest via capital calls in projects that have a positive impact on the environment. Since 2000, for example, they have already collected 18 million euros from 9,000 citizens. The funds are invested in local projects on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Beauvent actively pulls the cart of the energy transition and realized in the past years more than 250 solar installations, 5 wind turbines, 6 energy plants and 2 heat networks in Ostend. By cooperating with Milcobel, they strengthen their role as motor of the energy transition.
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