'Energy should be available to everyone,' and so Hans Veenemans designed a self-contained energy factory: the Ecoplant

Autonomous, multifunctional and pleasing to the eye. With that thought, entrepreneur Hans Veenemans launched the Ecoplant six years ago: a solar system that acts as a self-contained energy factory. "We are now active in forty countries," says the Changemaker.

"If people find something interesting and beautiful, it's much easier to get them excited. Entrepreneur Hans Veenemans likes cleverly thought-out designs that are both technically and visually distinctive. That certainly applies to the Ecoplant, a solar system in the shape of a flower.

The Ecoplant offers more than just solar energy: Veenemans designed the system designed as a small-scale, self-sufficient energy system with multiple functions.

Last November Veenemans' company was awarded the Dutch Innovation Award 2025 in the most innovative SME category.

'I've spent my entire career working on electronics. In that, you basically depend on electricity. But how do you get enough electricity to a project? Years ago I was already fascinated by the idea of a small energy factory for your own consumption, so you can become truly energy independent. With grid congestion, this is more topical than ever.

Solar energy offers a good starting point. You can generate energy with few moving parts and little wear and tear. In doing so, I've also always drawn inspiration from nature. A flower moves with the sun during the day. That is, of course, super effective. Each Ecoplant therefore has a chip that learns within sixty days how best to harvest the light intensity in a particular spot. With that, the solar panel is always properly aligned with the sun.

It's about more than solar power, though. I am a big proponent of systems that combine multiple functions. The name Ecoplant also refers to the English word for plant, plant. The "stem" of the Ecoplant contains batteries, and you can use the Ecoplant's solar energy to charge your car by connecting it to a charging station. It is also possible to connect it to the power grid, for example, if you want to feed solar power back.

There are also several clever features, including special components that optimize the heat dissipation of the solar cells for better efficiency.'