October 30, 2024
In-house electricity for Messe Friedrichshafen: With the installation of a large-scale photovoltaic system, the company is taking another important step toward sustainability. With a total output of up to 5.5 megawatts peak, 12,350 PV modules on an area of 25,000 square meters, the roof system will become the largest in the Lake Constance region.
"Our goal is to generate the majority of our company's annual electricity demand in-house in the future, thus ensuring economic operation and also feeding surpluses into the grid as green electricity," says Messe Managing Director Klaus Wellmann. "At the same time, we are making a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions." The project is scheduled to start in 2024, with the system slated to come on stream in late 2025.
After a short 18-month planning phase, the major project will see a complex energy project get underway. The trade fair company is creating an efficient, future-proof infrastructure and is making a significant contribution to the climate targets of the City of Friedrichshafen. In addition, the surplus is fed into the grid for the region as green electricity. "This measure adds up from an energy and strategy perspective. With regard to the city's sustainability strategy, the use of renewable energies must be given high priority in all areas – including our companies," explains Andreas Brand, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Friedrichshafen and Lord Mayor of the City of Friedrichshafen.
12,350 PV modules convert sunlight into green electricity
The plan is to install the large-scale PV system with project costs of 7.5 million euros on a total of ten barrel-vaulted roofs at Messe Friedrichshafen. It will generate around 5.5 MWh of green electricity annually, which is roughly equivalent to the consumption of 2,000 households. Technology and architecture are tailored to the demanding event business. A 2 MW battery storage unit ensures, among other things, that sufficient energy is also available at night on the exhibition grounds, helping largely offset the volatile power supply.
The planning of the large-scale PV system initially entailed intensive preparatory work, including an area potential analysis, feasibility studies and an invitation to tender, which also gave particular consideration to regional companies when awarding the contract. Installing the system on the ten existing roof surfaces avoids creating any new soil sealing.
