Kolitzheim/Munich: Solar Frontier and BELECTRIC announced today that they have installed over 2,500 thin-film CIS modules on the roof of the EDEKA Krawczyk supermarket parking lot in Schwabach, Germany. Leveraging Solar Frontier’s eco-friendly, RoHS compliant CIS modules, the city of Schwabach has nominated the project for its biennial environmental award.
With an overall capacity of 340 kWp, the installation was connected to the grid in July, 2011, and is the first plant of its kind to use Solar Frontier’s thin-film modules. “Our first pilot installation of this kind with Solar Frontier CIS technology has a forecast output of 340,000 kWh and an expected reduction of 230 tons of CO2 emissions per year,” said Martin Zembsch, Chief Sales Officer of BELECTRIC. The new CIS installation provides the additional benefits of Solar Frontier’s solar panel technology, including an all-black finish that fits better into the overall landscape and high durability to withstand harsh weather conditions.
“This first parking lot roof project collaboration between Solar Frontier and BELECTRIC offers supermarkets the compelling economical and ecological benefits of CIS solar power,” said Wolfgang Lange, Managing Director, Solar Frontier Europe. “The installation’s nomination for Schwabach’s environmental award provides increasing evidence that our CIS solar modules are the most eco-friendly currently on the market. We have taken another step together with our trusted partner BELECTRIC to further position Solar Frontier as the technology leader in the market”.
An existing solar installation at an EDEKA supermarket in Gochsheim, Germany, has proven the benefits of using more ecological ways to power commercial facilities. Last year the parking lot was upgraded to an innovative photovoltaic car park, on one hand enabling protection from rain and snow and on the other hand the generation of environmentally friendly electricity. The results were increased revenues thanks to higher customer satisfaction and an overall more positive public image for the supermarket.
An additional feature of the EDEKA Krawczyk supermarket is the installation of an electric vehicle charging point by BELECTRIC Drive. Customers will be able to charge their electrical cars while they’re shopping. “The combination of the photovoltaic car park installation and an electrical charging box for electric vehicles offers our customers the opportunity to make a contribution to CO2 reduction while they are shopping,” said Roland Krawczyk, Manager of the EDEKA supermarket in Schwabach.
Since 1992 the biennial environmental award of the city of Schwabach has been given to an organization or a project which is committed to improving environmental conditions, protecting natural resources or improving the living environment.
Solar Frontier’s CIS thin-film modules are produced at its new gigawatt-scale Kunitomi plant in Miyazaki, Japan. This state of the art facility produces the company’s high performance CIS thin-film modules currently rated up to 155W, which have already been certified by TÜV Rheinland Japan (IEC), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and BRE Global (Microgeneration Certification Scheme, MCS) allowing a global installation all over the world. The recently obtained salt and ammonium resistance certificates also highlight the suitability of the modules in agricultural and seaside areas.
About BELECTRIC®: BELECTRIC is the global market leader in the development and construction of ground-mounted solar power plants and photovoltaic rooftop installations (EPC). At BELECTRIC, engineers and project developers conduct interdisciplinary research in all areas of solar technology and develop innovative technology that forms a basis for the environmentally friendly energy supply of the future. With more than 25 patents granted every year, BELECTRIC is continuously proving its innovative spirit. BELECTRIC handles all aspects of the realization process – from the planning stage, through construction, and to the operation of photovoltaic systems. This ensures highly efficient decades-long performance. Alongside solar power generation, the subsidiary BELECTRIC Drive® concentrates on the combination of photovoltaics and electric vehicle systems. More information at www.belectric.com
About Solar Frontier K.K.: Solar Frontier, a 100% subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., established the world’s first gigawatt-scale CIS module factory in 2011 with a mission to create the most economical, ecological solar energy solutions in the world, on the world’s largest scale. Solar Frontier’s proprietary CIS technology, denoting key ingredients copper, indium, and selenium (in addition to gallium and sulfur), has the best overall potential to set the world’s most enduring standard for solar energy. This is based on our legacy of work in solar technology since the 1970s, the priority focus our laboratories have given to CIS since 1993, and our success in large scale CIS commercialization since 2007. The critical factors that combine to make CIS the overall economical and ecological leader include high efficiency modules and production processes as well as superior reliability, stability, sustainability, non-toxicity, and lower overall energy consumption in manufacturing to yield a faster energy payback time. These factors at gigawatt scale enable Solar Frontier to meet worldwide demand for the new standard in affordable solar panel performance. Visit www.solar-frontier.com for more information.
About Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.: Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has roots dating back more than 100 years in the downstream energy business.
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