SMA Solar Technology AG (stock: ETR:S92) has announced the opening of its 18,000 square meter solar power inverter manufacturing facility in Kassel, Germany; the largest in the world.
A solar power inverter is a crucial component in grid connected home solar power systems, converting DC power generated by solar panels into AC electricity suitable for use in the home..
The new premises has allowed SMA to expand its production capacity to four gigawatts annually. The factory is also pioneering the concept of carbon neutral industrial production by through a low-energy building concept, high efficiency and renewable energy.
Power for the factory is sourced from a building-integrated 1.1 megawatt solar panel system and an on-site biogas plant, the latter providing some of the factory’s basic heating requirement. Additional heat is provided by a local waste incineration facility and excess heat from a compressor is also recycled into the ventilation system.
Cooling is furnished through an absorption refrigerator driven by the excess heat generated by the biogas plant and an electric back-up system. Remaining power requirements are sourced from local renewable energy producers. After the final construction phase, the CO2 balance will be equalized through additional PV installations, eliminating the need for additional utility purchases.
According to Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America, the new plant demonstrates that world-class, CO2 neutral industrial production is both possible and economical using today’s existing technologies. “As the world leader in solar inverter technology we now intend to initiate a trend towards CO2 neutral factories,” said Mr Krehnke
