June 17, 2026
Solar power in Beringen: positive interim assessment
«My personal interim assessment: the solar installation in Beringen has clearly exceeded our expectations. The positive performance in the first year of operation speaks for itself.»
David Yersin, CEO PRONATEC
Looking back at a challenging project
As reported in the news article in June 2025, connecting our production operations in Beringen to solar power was anything but a standard project. The building’s structural conditions left little room for manoeuvre during planning. Coordinating the installation of the panels on the roof was equally demanding. However, in Fortis Solar, PRONATEC found a partner that skilfully overcame these challenges.
PRONATEC Production in Beringen before the expansion of the solar installation, with the roof still free of panels
Precision from above: a helicopter lifts the solar panels onto the roof of the production facility
Installed in record time: the new solar installation takes shape on the roof in Beringen
Tangible relief for production
The extensive planning effort has clearly paid off: the solar installation is now producing far more electricity than originally forecast. Since being put into operation, it has been making a measurable contribution to supplying our organic cocoa processing plant with electricity. Together with additional energy-saving measures in production, it has reduced grid electricity consumption by around 33 per cent compared with the previous year.
«We are delighted that the combination of in-house electricity generation and a more mindful approach to energy use in day-to-day operations is already having such a positive impact in the first year. It shows that we are on the right track with our commitment to sustainability,» says Nicolas Merky, Head of Sustainability and Projects at PRONATEC.
A positive daily reminder
A new digital display by the entrance now shows the amount of energy produced to date and the system’s current output. It is a visual reminder that PRONATEC is putting its commitment to sustainability into practice consistently and with concrete measures along the entire value chain – from the countries of origin and production, right through to delivery.
The digital display is installed at the entrance to the PRONATEC Production building
A bright interim assessment: the solar installation at the production site in Beringen has passed its first test
The display shows the output of the solar installation and the amount of energy generated to date
An important step – but not the last
For certain processes, our production site is still dependent on natural gas. At the same time, PRONATEC is working on additional measures to further reduce electricity and gas consumption in Beringen and make even more targeted use of the locally generated power. The solar installation is therefore an important step on the road to climate neutrality – but certainly not the last.
Continuous development of production
The new photovoltaic system is just one of several optimisation measures in Beringen. We are investing in making processes even more efficient and gradually expanding our production site in several areas.
We recently commissioned an automated bagging and palletising system for 25 kg sacks of cocoa powder. Valve bags with welded closures will be used in future. The new system makes the filling process more efficient, simplifies handling and increases pallet stability.
