Building on their renewable energy and energy storage research, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is transferring its theoretical findings into practice and will build what is expected to be the largest photovoltaics facility to supply demand in Germany and produce energy from renewable sources for its own use. In cooperation with the module manufacturer SOLARWATT, the facility will also be used to study how service life and grid compatibility of photovoltaics systems can be enhanced. "The photovoltaics facility for own consumption does not only represent a research project of KIT, it also marks the start of the energy turnaround for KIT's own power supply," says Professor Eberhard Umbach, President of KIT. "Moreover, this project makes sense from the economic point of view, as we are reducing our high power costs." "Modern photovoltaics modules based on German know-how are a stand-alone feature on the international market," Detlef Neuhaus, Chief Executive Officer of SOLARWATT, says. "Joint research based on a facility of this size in cooperation with KIT enables us to maintain our knowledge lead." "It is a primary mission of KIT to develop viable technologies and accelerate commercialization," explains Dr. Peter Fritz, Vice President for Research and Innovation at KIT. "Thanks to cooperation with SOLARWATT, we can demonstrate reasonable integration of photovoltaics in the overall system. This is indispensable for the success of the energy turnaround." The new photovoltaics facility for internal consumption represents KIT's investment in the future. Increasing energy costs presently are a big burden for all research institutions. This is particularly true for research using large-scale devices. This money is then lacking in the research budget for investments and staff. By using renewable energy sources, KIT can sustainably limit its power costs: In a first phase, photovoltaics modules of about 1 MW power will be installed and commissioned on the KIT premises by fall 2013. Over a period of one year, about 2% of KIT's power consumption will be covered by this facility. In total, about EUR 1.5 million are invested. Annual costs for energy supply will be reduced by about EUR 200,000. The facility will have a service life of about 20 years. "As a public research institution, we are not interested in competing with utilities," emphasizes Dr. Olaf Wollersheim, who manages the first project phase at KIT. "The photovoltaics facility will not only be used to cover own power consumption, but also to conduct research." In cooperation with SOLARWATT, a solar module field laboratory will be established. Solar modules of the latest state of the art will be installed, such as glass-glass modules, and studied with respect with their energy yield and aging behavior under real operation conditions. Research will also focus on how the angle of inclination and direction of the modules influences the production of solar power. It is aimed at developing regenerative energy systems of increased energy efficiency and longer service life of up to 30 years. Both will contribute to further reducing the costs of solar power. "Photovoltaics only is one element of an entirely regenerative energy system for Germany, which stores electric power, supplies it in a need-tailored manner, and hence, reduces grid load," explains project manager Wollersheim. Now, KIT possesses a unique infrastructure, in which novel electricity storage systems, intelligent power electronics, and system controls can be studied, developed together with German industry partners, and tested under real operation conditions. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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