Baywa r.e. - Elite Home & Solar

Solar Energy

Fully climate-neutral PV logistics centre

October 30, 2024 ryansheehanrts

The agreement for the comprehensive logistics project, between BayWa r.e. Solar Trade and Seacon Logistics, was finalised during the leading international trade fair “Transport Logistic” in Munich. The partners are developing a completely climate-neutral logistics hub at the Wanssum container port for the distribution of photovoltaic products from BayWa r.e. Solar Trade.

The finalised project will have a storage capacity of over 50,000 m², making it the largest hub out of currently 66 in the BayWa r.e. Solar Trade supply chain. The aim is to increase and continuously develop customer service and efficiency in all aspects of the business including the handling of sea freight, warehousing, transport alongside customs and import services. The ground-breaking project is scheduled for completion in early 2024.

7.3 MW PV rooftop installation

Certified “Excellent” by BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) the final concept of the logistics hub includes a PV system with a capacity of 7.3 MW on the roofs of the hub. This system will provide enough electricity for the entire logistics hub including the electrified barges, terminal trucks and car fleet. In line with both Seacon’s and BayWa r.e.’s sustainability policy the logistics hub will therefore be entirely climate-neutral.

Also interesting: Krannich Solar: 5 new warehouses in Europe and America

Frank Jessel, Global Director of Solar Trade at BayWa r.e., says: “The hub at the Wanssum container port will enable us to offer our customers an even better service in the future. The increased connectivity reduces delivery and storage times, while at the same time increasing product availability. Last but not least, the project is designed to be completely sustainable, so together with our partner Seacon we are setting an example in the fight against climate change.”

Efficient and sustainable security of supply

Dominik Dohr, Global Head Supply Chain Solar Trade at BayWa r.e., adds: “In order to make product availability and security of supply for our customers as efficient and sustainable as possible, the new logistics hub in Wanssum plays an essential role in our supply chain. The direct barge connection to the container port of Rotterdam makes Wanssum our gateway for importing PV modules for the European market. Service, efficiency and sustainability are harmonised here.”

Did you miss that? Schletter Group extends logistics and production

Sylvester van de Logt, CEO of Seacon Logistics, adds: “The cooperation with BayWa r.e. Solar Trade fits perfectly with our vision of creating significant added value along our customers’ supply chains and continuously improving our service. In concrete terms, this means tailor-made end-to-end supply chain solutions based on a sustainable foundation that has been awarded “Excellent” by BREEAM. Together with BayWa r.e. Solar Trade, Seacon will in future take on the responsible task of making optimum use of the electricity generated.” (hcn)

Source link

Solar Energy

18 MW PV rooftop installation at Marl logistics site

October 28, 2024 ryansheehanrts

In a cross-company cooperation, the real estate group Goodman, the renewable energy company BayWa r.e. and the wholesaler Metro are setting a clear example for more sustainability and climate protection. At the Metro logistics site in Marl, a solar rooftop installation with around 6 MW was opened on the two existing buildings, and on the second building, with around 12 MW, the largest solar rooftop installation in Germany at present. In total, the two plants correspond to an area of 14 soccer fields with 43,000 installed photovoltaic modules and a total output of 18 MW. At the same time, the companies are making a significant contribution to the promotion of renewable energies and the implementation of the ambitious climate targets of the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy and Deputy Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia: “Germany’s largest rooftop photovoltaic plant is now located here in Marl in the Ruhr region. As a lighthouse project, the project realized in close cooperation is exemplary for the sustainable energy generation of the future and for the accelerated expansion of solar energy here in North Rhine-Westphalia. Inexpensive, locally produced electricity is now key location factor for companies and a key for our state on its way to becoming the first climate-neutral industrial region in Europe.“

Self-consumption – excess energy into the grid

The photovoltaic system generates enough clean electricity to meet Metro Logistics’ own needs at the site and feed excess energy into the grid. In addition, the entire building complex has already been awarded the Gold Certificate of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). In the process, Metro Logistics, as operator of the property, has worked with Goodman as an international real estate group, and BayWa r.e. as a developer, service provider and solution provider in the field of renewable energies.

Also interesting: Fully climate-neutral PV logistics centre

Christof Prange, Managing Director of Goodman Germany GmbH, emphasizes: “We are consistently expanding capacities for the generation of green energy and thus making our contribution to a rapid energy turnaround. The 18 MW we are operating in Marl is roughly equivalent to the electricity requirements of 5,100 households.”

Goodman

Logistics centre in Marl/Germany, powered by solar PV.

And Günter Haug, COO at BayWa r.e. adds: “Large industrial and commercial real estate groups such as Goodman play a key role in helping companies to make optimal use of their large roof areas to generate renewable energy. This lighthouse project serves as an important signpost and showcase for industrial and logistics companies that want to make a real difference when it comes to sustainability.”

Important step for the climate strategy of Metro

For Metro as an international wholesaler, climate protection is of particular importance in many areas. With 102 stores in Germany alone, the challenges are manifold, for example in topics such as the renewal of the heating infra- structure, the conversion of cooling systems to natural coolant as well as an expansion of the electric vehicle fleet and the increased use of photovoltaic systems. Christiane Giesen, Chief People & Culture Officer, Labor Director and Member of the Executive Board of Metro AG: “The commissioning of the PV plant in Marl is an important step for our climate strategy. Metro has set itself the goal in 2021 of consistently reducing its carbon footprint worldwide and being completely climate neutral in its own business operations by 2040. An ambitious goal – but with good partners and the right framework conditions from policymakers, we are confident that we can achieve this goal and make our contribution to greater climate protection.” (hcn)

Source link

Solar Energy

BayWa r.e. sells 222 MW solar projects to Octopus Energy Generation

September 27, 2024 ryansheehanrts

The sale includes the project rights for the 50 MW “Perrinpit Road” solar park, developed under a joint venture with Grüne Energien Solar.

The three other projects are ready to build, with construction set to start this year:

– Driffield a 48 MW solar park, located about 50 km east of York

– South Fambridge Hall: a 52 MW solar park, located in Rochford, Essex

– Corner Copse: a 72 MW solar park, located near Swindon, Wiltshire.

BayWa r.e. will construct all three projects under an EPC arrangement. Driffield has also been developed to include a 30 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) which will be built by Octopus.

Portfolio of more than 835 MW ground-mounted solar in the UK

The company has also entered into 20-year-agreements for these projects, to provide them with long-term operations and maintenance as well as commercial asset management services. In total, the BayWa r.e. Asset Operations Team manages over 1.8 GW of renewables in the UK, including more than 835 MW of ground-mounted solar.

Also see: BayWa r.e. – 150 MW renewable projects in CFD allocation round secured

Each project has a strong focus on improving biodiversity and providing community benefits. BayWa r.e.’s initiatives include creating habitats, planting wildflower meadows, trees, and grasslands, as well as installing bat boxes and hedgehog houses. Additionally, the company will support local communities through benefit packages.

Also interesting: Strategic partnership to boost PV

Christine McGregor, Managing Director, UK & Ireland at BayWa r.e. commented: “Thanks to the efforts of our strong team in the UK, we were able to prepare these high-quality solar projects for a successful construction phase which will commence soon, ensuring a near-term start of green energy production. We are looking forward to building upon our reliable partnership with Octopus Energy Generation, and together, contribute to the UK’s ambitious plans to accelerate the energy transition.”

UK as one of the key markets

BayWa r.e.’s COO Daniel Gäfke added: “The UK is one of the key markets for our wind and solar projects business. We are delighted to have brought these sites to the point of being attractive investment opportunities for our customers and we look forward to continuing to demonstrate our capabilities in this sector to financial investors over the long-term. These projects will play a crucial role in supporting the UK government’s goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. We are excited to continue our efforts in the UK and beyond to help meet essential climate targets.” (hcn)

Source link

Solar Energy

BayWa r.e. – France: 136 MW solar cluster built on former military site

August 21, 2024 ryansheehanrts

The solar parks not only produce green electricity, but are also used for sheep grazing. This marks another milestone for BayWa r.e. in the conversion of brownfield sites into energy, agricultural and ecological land. The former military sites were cleaned up and cleared of mines as part of the transformation.

On the decommissioned La Martinerie military base near Châteauroux in central France, two solar parks will generate 82 GWh of solar power per year, which corresponds to the electricity consumption of around 38,000 citizens. While the 40 MW “Greenberry” solar park was only recently commissioned, its predecessor “Blueberry” has been in operation since 2021 with an installed capacity of 30 MW.

Preserve local biodiversity

The electricity needs of a further 38,000 people are covered by the three solar parks, Fontenet I, II and III. The plants are located on the former Fontenet military base in Charente-Maritime and also generate 82 GWh per year. Following the completion of Fontenet I in 2014 and Fontenet II in 2022, the construction of Fontenet III was recently completed.

In order to preserve local biodiversity and reduce mechanical maintenance of the solar parks, BayWa r.e. has concluded contracts for sheep grazing at both sites. Additional measures to protect orchids, reptiles and small mammals have been implemented at Greenberry and Blueberry. In Fontenet, BayWa r.e. is also supporting the local community by installing solar panels on the roof of a community building.

Also see: PV project in France with hydrogen, storage and community participation

“We are proud to have successfully completed these flagship projects. By transforming the former military areas, we are achieving a triple benefit: ecological, through the conversion into pastureland, energy, through the installation of solar panels, and climatic, through the production of green electricity, which saves more than 58,000 tons of CO₂,” explained Benoît Roux, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. France.

Pyrotechnic decontamination required

“This example of land redevelopment in the context of the energy transition is another milestone for our innovative and local approach in France. With a strong regional presence, we are determined to create positive impacts and benefits for the local community. Renewable energy is a driver for rural and environmental development – not only solar energy, but also wind energy, as the French team recently demonstrated with the 9 MW Quilly wind farm, which was fully sold to the local community,” adds Céline Tran, Regional Director of Projects Europe South-West at BayWa r.e.

Also see: BayWa – Liquidity secured until end of September

The La Martinerie and Fontenet military sites both have a rich history dating back to the first half of the 20th century. La Martinerie housed a pilot school from 1915 and the 3rd Fighter Squadron from 1920. The Fontenet military camp was built in the interwar period. From 1951 to 1969, these bases housed NATO troops before being closed in the 2000s.

Pyrotechnic decontamination was required before these areas could be cleaned up. Several grenades were secured at Fontenet and a 250 kg bomb was unearthed at La Martinerie in 2023. (hcn)

Source link

Solar Energy

Agri-PV park with PPA and more biodiversity

August 8, 2024 ryansheehanrts

In November 2022, the VELUX Group and BayWa r.e. announced the conclusion of a PPA on the basis of which two large PV solar parks were to be built in southern Spain: one in Gerena, near Seville, and one in Alhendín, near Granada. The park in Alhendín has now been completed and has recently started feeding electricity into the local grid.

With the full commissioning of Alhendín, the VELUX Group has not only achieved its goal of supplying itself with 100 percent renewable electricity, but has also enabled the construction of further renewable energy plants in Europe. The solar park consists of more than 85,000 solar modules and produces 96.8 GWh of electricity per year. This corresponds to the electricity consumption of 24,700 European households.

Innovative agri-PV system

Part of Alhendín combines agriculture with renewable energy generation as an agri-PV plant and is BayWa r.e.’s first agri-PV project in Spain: Agricultural machinery can now drive between the rows of solar modules on around 10 percent of the area.

“The completion of the Alhendín solar park and its connection to the Spanish electricity grid will enable VELUX to achieve its green energy supply targets,” says Kim Jonas, Energy & Climate Director of the VELUX Group. “The project, which focuses on agricultural use and biodiversity, fits perfectly with our ambition to drive climate action and improve biodiversity. Together with BayWa r.e., we are implementing the Solar Plant Symbiosis concept, which enables solar energy production in harmony with nature and the local population.”

Also see: Agrisolar: New digital map presents European projects

Daniel Gäfke, Global Director of Projects and Member of the Board of Management of BayWa r.e., adds: “We are delighted to be able to support VELUX in achieving the target of 100 percent renewable electricity for its European sites. This is also an important milestone for BayWa r.e. to accelerate the energy transition in companies in order to achieve global climate targets. Just like VELUX, our approach is to go beyond the usual standards. Therefore, in this project, we will implement pioneering Agri-PV concepts that enhance biodiversity, promote local stakeholder engagement, and maximize local value creation.”

Solar Plant Symbiosis

The Solar Plant Symbiosis concept includes a series of measures to promote biodiversity and the involvement of local stakeholders. It was developed by the Universidad de Córdoba and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and so far includes the following measures as part of the project:

– Baseline surveys, digitization and monitoring of vegetation

– Agri-PV system and rainwater collection system

– Grass planting with natural seeds and wildflower species

– Shelters for wildlife, ponds for amphibians, bird baths, nesting boxes and posts

– Breeding site to protect the endangered lesser kestrel species

– Improvement of the steppe habitat

– Monitoring and evaluation of the measures to create a guide that can be used to adopt best practice in other projects

– Social actions on the ground, such as workshops with local stakeholders and school visits

Next steps

The measures are to be gradually implemented at the Alhendín solar park by spring 2025. The second PV project of the collaboration, the Gerena solar park, is currently still awaiting official approval on site and is scheduled for completion in 2025. The park is expected to have an output of 60 MWp.

When both solar plants are fully operational, they will generate 167 GWh of renewable electricity for VELUX every year. This corresponds to the electricity consumption of around 45,000 European households. Around 80 percent of the electricity generated will go to VELUX via the PPA and will reduce the VELUX Group’s carbon footprint in Europe by around 40,000 tons of CO2 annually.

More at Intersolar Europe

BayWa r.e. will be presenting its comprehensive product and service portfolio in the PV sector at the Intersolar Europe trade fair in Munich (Hall A4, Stand 180) from June 19-21. Among other things, visitors will be able to view an agri-PV system in the outdoor area, which will be installed by BayWa r.e. together with partners. (hcn)

Source link