A question of location
Photovoltaics (PV) is the subject of much discussion. For us, the benefits of solar power are beyond question. When we use the title "sensible solar storm", it's not about the why, but above all about the where, i.e. the question: where to put the solar systems? This was the subject of our CEO Tarik Balcik's master's thesis. Years ago, he investigated which areas were suitable locations for PV systems. After all, there aren't just rooftops in the country!
Solar thermal energy, solar energy, solar power
When people talk about solar power, they usually mean photovoltaic systems made from solar modules. Please do not confuse this with solar thermal systems, which are used to heat water and also for heating systems. Let's stay with solar power, which is generated using photovoltaic modules. These modules can be mounted on roofs (on private houses or public buildings) or as solar parks on undeveloped areas. This is just the beginning; there are many other possibilities.
Photovoltaics for everyone
If you first need more information on solar energy and would like to know what subsidies and grants are available for your private PV project, the following websites are a good place to start
German Solar Industry Association: https://www.solarwirtschaft.de/
Central Association of German Electrical and Information Technology: https://www.zvei.org/
Federal funding database: https://www.foerderdatenbank.de/
There are many factors to consider during installation, including the optimum alignment and inclination of the solar modules, the least possible incidence of shade and the load-bearing capacity of the roof or façade. Good advice from experts is necessary in order to meet all technical and official requirements. You have probably noticed that the registration process for balcony power plants has recently been simplified. You can find out more about this on the federal government's website.
Dual use
Of course, the modules can not only be installed on existing residential buildings or office units without having to convert open spaces in the countryside. Systems with a dual function are particularly interesting. Such areas can be found in agriculture, for example: solar modules could also provide shade on pastures, and there are fairly large roof areas on barns that are often suitable for PV systems. Incidentally, there are even floating PV systems ...
Another interesting solution is so-called in-roof systems. Here, the solar modules are not mounted on the existing roof, but are integrated into the roof tiles. Another option is to integrate the modules into the facades of buildings, or to mount them as balcony power plants on the balcony railing, on the garage or on the carport. Experiments are also being conducted with modules that are integrated into existing parking lot surfaces.
"Better safe than sorry", as the saying goes. But as attractive as the idea of making double use of existing buildings and spaces is, the cost-benefit ratio must of course also be right. It is to be feared that with dual-use models, the yield remains lower, while the installation costs are higher. However, as technology is constantly being developed and experience with solar energy increases, solutions will be found that both conserve resources and generate a high output of electricity.
With sun to light
There is no way around renewable energies. However, critics often argue that in a country like Germany, the number of hours of sunshine is not sufficient to use photovoltaic systems as an alternative energy source. There are various ways to find out about the average or actual number of hours of sunshine in certain countries or regions online. One source of information is the website of the German Weather Service (DVD) https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/rcccm/int/rcccm_int_sun.html.
Show me!
With the Pro:Hive, we are going one step further and developing maps that bring together different parameters and can still be displayed in a clear and user-friendly way. For the topic of solar energy, data on various areas is prepared in such a way that it can be displayed individually according to the user's needs. What sounds simple is actually a very complex process that has to be constantly updated and adapted. On the Pro:Hive website, we illustrate which variables are incorporated into the map models. If you are interested in a solution for your company, please contact us.
