Minister of State for Bavaria, Dr. Werner Schnappauf, inaugurates EPURON thin-film solar installation in Pfarrkirchen, Bavaria
- One of the world's largest solar power installations using innovative thin-film technology
- The installation will produce enough annual power to supply over 500 households while reducing CO2 emissions by 1500 tons
- "The development of renewable energy is active climate protection", declared Dr. Werner Schnappauf
Hamburg, 16 May 2007: EPURON GmbH, a member of the Conergy AG Group, inaugurated today its next large-scale photovoltaic project in the Lower Bavarian town of Pfarrkirchen. Dr. Werner Schnappauf (CSU), the Bavarian State Minister of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection, officially opened the installation in the presence of a number of invited guests from politics and industry.
The installation was planned and financed by EPURON and has a capacity of 1.9 megawatts, making it the world's tenth largest thin-film-based projects. Sister company SunTechnics, one of the world's leading suppliers of renewable energy systems, was in charge with constructing the installation last October. Within only two months, SunTechnics constructed the solar power installation that will now generate about two million kilowatt hours of eco-friendly solar power per annum over an area of 6.5 hectares. That's enough power to serve over 500 households and is equivalent to a CO2 saving of 1500 tons.
In his speech, Dr. Werner Schnappauf stressed the importance of renewable energy in Germany to protect global climate change: "Global climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing mankind in the 21st century. In addition to the economic use of available resources, continued development of CO2 neutral and CO2 free renewable energy in particular is of most important." The Minister of State stressed the international participation of Bavaria as a role model. "Although Bavaria only contributes 0.3 percent to global CO2 emissions, the Free State of Bavaria must set an example as a high-tech centre. A credible commitment must be shown in order to have any chance of convincing hesitant parties to join the cause to prevent global climate change", Schnappauf added. In Bavaria, renewable energy accounts for nearly 8 percent of primary energy consumption, which is among the highest contributions in Germany. Schnappauf: "We will continue to pursue this policy of promoting climate-friendly and independent energy sources." The government of the State of Bavaria recently adopted the Climate Action Plan 2020. The contribution of climate-friendly renewable energy will be doubled to at least 16 percent during the coming decade.
The photovoltaic plant at Pfarrkirchen is the second largest thin-film module project to be implemented by EPURON in Bavaria after the 1.78 megawatt photovoltaic installation at Mering near Augsburg. In addition to reducing the loss of produced power during high summer temperatures and the quick response during low irradiation levels, advantages of this technology include its comparatively low production costs. "Thin-film technology has developed into a real alternative to silicon-based modules and will allow us to implement further major projects in Germany", said EPURON Managing Director Thomas-Tim Sävecke. "Bavaria in particular offers excellent conditions for the development of photovoltaic power, on account of high irradiation levels and the political support provided even at regional level. If politics and industry can co-operate globally as efficiently as they do here in Bavaria, we will be much closer to achieving our climate protection goals", Sävecke added.