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Photovoltaic array at SmartSolarFab production facility in Alzenau

Schott Solar has started operating a photovoltaic array at its German SmartSolarFab production facility in Alzenau after a four-month installation period. The photovoltaic array produces enough electricity to power 200 residential homes, cutting annual CO2 emissions by 400 tons in the process. The CO2 saving equals the carbon offset by 32,000 trees. Dr. Martin Heming, CEO of Schott Solar AG, is proud of the project: "We are using the roof space of our production facility effectively thanks to our own products. The majority of panels installed are thin-film solar modules, which are ideal for the conditions presented by the barrel-shaped roof. Thin-film modules have greater output in low-light conditions and are therefore the perfect choice for indirect or diffuse light settings."

The project in Alzenau is environmentally friendly and makes sound business sense. The electricity generated by the array is fed into the grid and compensated at 35.23 euro cents for each kilowatt hour. "The Alzenau project showcases how feasibility and sustainability can be reconciled successfully," explains Heming.

In total, 7,218 PV modules were installed:
3,062 Schott ASI 90 modules, 3,676 Schott ASI 100 modules as well as 480 Schott Poly 220 modules. The Schott ASI thin-film solar modules were integrated into a Kalzip roofing system mounted on the barrel-shaped roof of the building. The crystalline Schott Poly modules are mounted on a Lambda flat roof system supplied by Mounting Systems.

An interesting feature of the installation is that the thin-film solar modules on the north side of the roof are tilted at an angle of up to 10 degrees to gather more data on the output of Schott ASI modules in low-light conditions.

Schott Solar is forecasting attractive yields from its own photovoltaic array: The company is expecting the thin-film array to generate 920 kWh per kilowatt peak installed capacity. The crystalline array can generate up to 940 kWh per kWp. As a result, the amount of prevented annual emissions is considerable: The new photovoltaic array produces enough electricity to power 200 residential homes, cutting annual CO2 emissions by 400 tons in the process. The CO2 saving equals the carbon offset by 32,000 trees.

Array data:
Number of modules / module type: Roof 1: 2296x Schott Solar ASI 90
Roof 2: 766x Schott Solar ASI 90
Roof 3: 811x Schott ASI 100
Roof 4+6: 2865x Schott ASI 100
Roof 5: 480x Schott POLY 220

Number of solar inverters / type:
87x SMA Sunny Mini Central 7000HV
3x SMA Sunny Mini Central 7000TL
3x SMA Sunny Mini Central 10000TL

Installed nominal capacity: 750 kWp



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