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Showcase project – Phoenix Contact opens park to show the future of the All Electric Society

October 14, 2024 ryansheehanrts

Phoenix Contact has completely redesigned the access area to the factory premises in Blomberg in Germany on an area of around 7,600 square metres. The centrepiece is a freely accessible park that makes the vision of the All Electric Society tangible for everyone and explains it in an understandable way. A distinctive feature is a solar tracker with a diameter of twelve metres on the roundabout directly at the park. It can be rotated so that it is always at the right angle to the sun.

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Solar-electric power supply already possible today

By means of the energy flow from generation, conversion, storage and distribution to optimised energy use, the park shows how the All Electric Society can become reality. Real applications illustrate how sector coupling works and which technologies make it possible.

The park is a miniature representation of the real world. Glass containers for the respective applications, open-air systems and a pavilion with a control room and meeting rooms form the exhibition areas of the park. This shows a holistic picture of the sparing use of resources based on existing technologies.

Experience sector coupling at first hand

The common thread running through the park is the flow of energy and data. Along this theme, applications are placed in a meaningful context and their mutual influence is shown. The basis is the generation of renewable energy with solar and wind power. In the park itself, solar modules provide sustainable electricity. They are located on the roofs of the Cubes and the charging stations, integrated into the facade of the pavilion and used as floor panels.

Around 155 kilowatts of photovoltaics installed

A total of 550 solar modules were installed in the park. They supply 155,000 kilowatt hours of clean electricity per year. Wind energy is exemplified by a walk-in wind gondola in the park and a wind tree. Its small wind rotors turn even in weak winds and generate energy. With 36 blades, so-called aeroleafs, the wind tree has a total output of almost eleven kilowatts.

Since the sun and the wind are not always available in equal quantities, surplus energy must be stored and released when needed. Battery storage units are used for this purpose, for example. In this way, energy consumers in the park are supplied with clean energy at all times. These include the buildings, e-charging stations and the applications in the park. Optimisation measures are also demonstrated on these consumers in order to reduce energy demand and resource use.

Systems precisely balanced

The energy generators, storage units, consumers and the medium-voltage grid are connected via a local grid station. An energy management system ensures the balance between generators, storage units and consumers. The system records all relevant characteristic data and controls the energy flows via the local network station.

Also interesting: Solar power for large-scale tenants housing project in the Netherlands

In the park of the All Electric Society, not only electrical energy is needed, but also other energy sources. The cubes and the pavilion in the park are supplied with heat or cold. This energy flow is controlled by an independent hydraulic system that integrates a cold local heating network, ice storage and two heat pumps.

Site now open for visitors

The park has been freely accessible to visitors as of September 2023. Extensive information is available on the internet for an overview. This makes it possible to plan a visit in advance. (HS/mfo)

All information about the All Electric Society Park can be found here.

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Solar Energy

Record annual growth of renewable jobs in 2023

October 2, 2024 ryansheehanrts

2023 saw the highest ever increase in renewable energy jobs, from 13.7 million in 2022 to 16.2 million, according to the newly released Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2024 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The 18% year-on-year leap the strong growth of renewables generating capacities, together with a continued expansion of equipment manufacturing.

A closer look at the report’s data, however, shows an uneven global picture. Close to two-thirds of new global solar and wind capacity were installed in China alone last year.

PV related jobs with the highest growth

China leads with an estimated 7.4 million renewable energy jobs, or 46% of the global total. The EU followed suit with 1.8 million, Brazil with 1.56 million, and the United States and India, each with close to 1 million jobs.

As in the past few years, the strongest impetus came from the rapidly growing solar photovoltaics (PV) sector, which supported 7.2 million jobs globally. Of these, 4.6 million were in China, the dominant PV manufacturer and installer. Enabled by significant Chinese investments, Southeast Asia has emerged as an important export hub of solar PV, creating jobs in the region.

Liquid biofuels had the second-largest number of jobs, followed by hydropower and wind. Brazil topped the biofuels ranks, accounting for one third of the world’s 2.8 million jobs in this sector. Soaring production put Indonesia in second, with a quarter of global biofuels jobs.

Also interesting: PV 56 % cheaper than fossil fuels or nuclear

Due to a slowdown in deployment, hydropower became an outlier to the overall growth trend, with the number of direct jobs estimated to have shrunk from 2.5 million in 2022 to 2.3 million. China, India, Brazil, Viet Nam and Pakistan were the largest employers in the industry.

In the wind sector, China and Europe remain dominant. As leaders in turbine manufacturing and installations, they contributed 52% and 21% to the global total of 1.5 million jobs, respectively.

Africa lacking behind

Despite immense resource potential, Africa continues to receive only a small share of global renewables investments, which translated into a total of 324,000 renewables jobs in 2023. For regions in urgent need of reliable and sustainable energy access like Africa, and especially in remote areas, decentralised renewable energy (DRE) solutions–stand-alone systems that are not connected to the utility grids–present an opportunity to both plug the access gap and generate jobs. Removing barriers for women to start entrepreneurship initiatives in DRE can stimulate the sector, resulting in improved local economies and energy equity.

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Acknowledging the high degree of geographic concentration, Francesco La Camera, IRENA Director-General, said, “The story of the energy transition and its socio-economic gains should not be about one or two regions. If we are all to fulfil our collective pledge to triple renewable power capacity by 2030, the world must step up its game and support marginalised regions in addressing barriers impeding their transitions progress. Strengthened international collaboration can mobilise increased finance towards policy support and capacity building in countries that are yet to benefit from renewables job creation.”

Need for more diverse job opportunities

To meet the energy transitions’ growing demand for diverse skills and talents, policies must support measures in favour of greater workforce diversity and gender equity. Representing 32% of the renewables total workforce, women continue to hold an unequal share even as the number of jobs keeps rising. It is essential that education and trainings lead to diverse job opportunities for women, youth, and members of minority and disadvantaged groups.

“Investing in education, skills, and training helps reskill all workers from fossil fuel sectors, address gender or other disparities, and prepare the workforce for new clean energy roles. It is essential if we are to equip workers with the knowledge and skills that they need to get decent jobs, and to ensure that the energy transition is a just and sustainable one. A sustainable transition is what the Paris Agreement requires of us, and what we committed to achieving when we signed up to the Agreement,” explained ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo.

11th edition of the Annual Review

This 11th edition of the Annual Review is part of IRENA’s extensive analytical work on the socio-economic impacts of a renewables-based energy transition. This edition—which is the 4th edition developed in collaboration with ILO–underscores the importance of a people- and planet-centred approach to achieve a just and inclusive transition.

It calls for a holistic policy framework that goes beyond the pursuit of technological innovation to rapidly meet the tripling target at the lowest-possible cost, and prioritises local value creation, ensures the creation of decent jobs, and builds on active participation by workers and communities in shaping the energy transition. Building on its expertise on the world of work, the ILO contributed the report’s chapter on skills. (hcn)

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Solar Energy

BayWa: Liquidity secured until end of September

August 16, 2024 ryansheehanrts

BayWa AG has reached an agreement with its most important creditor banks and its largest shareholders – Bayerische Raiffeisen Beteiligungs-AG (BRB AG) and Raiffeisen Agrar Invest (RAIG) – on the provision of fresh liquidity amounting to around €550 million. This required standstill agreements to be successfully concluded with the lending banks. Loan repayments due will also be suspended until the end of September 2024 so that the commissioned restructuring report can be finalised. The efficacy of the agreements is subject to various standard conditions, which the BayWa Board of Management expects to be met in the coming days.

Bridging loan agreement with a volume of EUR 272 million

Specifically, the financing package provides that the core banks will make bridging loans with a volume of €272 million available. In addition, BayWa AG’s two largest shareholders have provided subordinated shareholder loans totalling €125 million as a considerable part of the package to date, of which €75 million has already been disbursed.

On top of that, BRB AG, together with Frankfurt-based DZ Bank, acquired BayWa AG’s stake in BRB Holding GmbH for a total purchase price of €120 million and RWA AG acquired BayWa AG’s stake in BSV Saaten GmbH for a purchase price of approximately €10 million. RAIG and its affiliated companies also acquired grain from BayWa AG at market prices for a total purchase price of €20 million to provide liquidity in the short term.

Restructuring report end of September

Based on the discussions with the banks, other financing partners and major stakeholders, the Board of Management assumes that a concept for a sustainable reorganisation and a new financing arrangement can be reached by the end of September on the basis of the restructuring report, which will then be available in draft form.

“We want to go on supporting our customers, suppliers and financing partners as the reliable partner they are used to,” says BayWa CEO Marcus Pöllinger. “For that reason, we will now look at the current situation and determine the organisational and procedural measures that need to be taken in order to restore lost trust. The financing package marks an important step towards securing BayWa’s long-term future. As such, we have taken a further step towards making the company more robust in a difficult market environment, with less debt in future and a clear strategic focus on the profitability of the business units.”

Planned reorganisation of BayWa r.e.

In a time of rising interest rates, the Board of Management has reviewed the expansionary and mainly credit-financed worldwide business market over recent years as part of Strategy 2030 and has been steering a course towards consolidation since the beginning of the year as part of the implementation of the strategy. The measures from the restructuring report will accelerate this process.

In addition, the capital-intensive project business involving wind farms and solar parks will be reorganised, along with other areas of the Renewable Energies Segment, which BayWa operates via its fully consolidated subsidiary BayWa r.e. AG. Irrespective of this, BayWa continues to see growth opportunities in the markets for renewable energies. (hcn)

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Solar Energy

PV – Goldbeck Solar and Imwind build agri-PV park with multiple benefits

August 5, 2024 ryansheehanrts

The project developers Goldbeck Solar and Imwind are jointly constructing a solar park in Gaweinstal, Lower Austria. The plant will have an output of five megawatts. The electricity will be purchased in full by the drugstore chain DM. The three partners have concluded a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for this purpose. In this way, Goldbeck Solar and Imwind can refinance the plant and DM has capped its energy costs for the agreed supply period.

Spotlight Solar: Meet farmers at Energy Decental

PPA concluded

DM can cover the electricity requirements of around 70 shops in Austria with the system. This is one sixth of the total electricity requirements of DM shops in the Alpine republic. This works all the better because Goldbeck and Imwind will mount the solar modules from Trina on 8,200 trackers that follow the path of the sun. This results in an even distribution of power generation throughout the day – in contrast to the fixed installation of the modules, where the system generates little power in the morning and evening, but has a huge yield peak at midday.

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By permanently realigning the modules according to the position of the sun, the system also achieves up to 20 per cent more yield compared to a fixed installation. However, the trackers have even more advantages. According to the project partners, such systems have the potential to improve the microclimate in the area and reduce water evaporation.

Vertical modules

In addition, the modules can be set up almost vertically in cultivation mode. This makes it possible to continue using the area almost entirely for agricultural purposes. This is why the project was specifically geared towards the agri-PV farmer and coordinated with the farmer, who continues to use the area for roughage cultivation and livestock farming. This saves the farmer having to buy in feed for his animals from the Waldviertel.

Economic and ecological benefits

In this way, the project also saves further CO2, as the feed does not have to be transported from the Waldviertel to Gaweinstal. “With the Agri-PV Park in Gaweinstal, we are sending a strong signal for the combination of sustainable energy generation and agricultural use,” emphasises Tobias Schüssler, who is responsible for operations at Goldbeck Solar. “This project shows how innovative technologies can offer economic and ecological benefits at the same time.”

Also interesting: Solar plant in Austria protects berries and involves citizens

Realising further projects

For the company, the plant in Gaweinstal is another important milestone not only on the Austrian market, but also in its cooperation with Imwind in the development of agri-PV projects. The tracker technology reveals its universal advantages and sustainable effects.

Solar offensive at EnergyDecentral

You can discuss these and other projects with interested farmers directly at this year’s EnergyDecentral. As part of the trade fair’s solar offensive on decentralised energy supply for farms, there will be the opportunity to develop ideas and specific projects together with farmers at advisory tables. All information about the solar campaign is available here. (su/mfo)

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Solar Energy

Solar-powered freshwater – Joining forces to help new-borns and mothers in Africa

August 2, 2024 ryansheehanrts

After constructing a water tower and installing LONGi solar panels on the roof of the clinic, the team was able to power a water pump that continuously fills the water tank, providing freshwater to the maternity clinic. The lack of fresh, running water remains a major problem in many parts of Africa. Sanitation and hygiene are fundamental to improving standards of living for people and at the same time decrease maternal and infant mortality. 58 babies have been born in the Linga Linga maternity clinic since the project was completed in May 2024.

Close collaboration with African communities and authorities is key

For projects that have an impact on and involve local communities, Project Vita ensured close collaboration with all relevant authorities. They jointly decided on the best and most feasible solution, and most importantly, on a smooth implementation.

The construction of the maternity clinic marked the beginning of a journey for Linga Linga, a rural village in Mozambique’s Inhambane province. The nearest accessible health facility for childbirth is in Morrumbene, a town about 30 kilometers from the village.

As a result, most women in Linga Linga gave birth at home or on the road while trying to walk to Morrumbene for help. Morrumbene’s Mayor and the chieftain of the village asked Project Vita for help in improving Linga Linga and Morrumbene district where one of the projects was a place where women could give birth in safer conditions.

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Working with local community members, the maternity clinic was built in the village next to the newly built health clinic that had been closed for 3 years because of lack of energy but could now open because of the support. In addition to delivery facilities, the maternity clinic will provide antenatal and postnatal care.

Simple off-grid energy solutions can save lives

The solar-powered freshwater solution for Linga Linga’s clinic is an important addition. With an average of 17 babies born each month at this clinic, the availability of clean tap water is essential to reducing the risk of infection and complications for mothers during labor and delivery, while also improving the daily routine of the clinic’s dedicated nurses.

Also interesting: New report shows potential for photovoltaics in Africa

Despite a global decline in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to 34.2% between 2000 and 2020, the MMR in the African region remains very high according to the integrated African Health Observatory (iAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2020, 69% of global maternal deaths have occurred in the African region. (mfo)

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