SMA Solar Technology AG has received the 2010 International Energy Efficiency First Place Award for its carbon neutral solar inverter factory, located in Kassel, Germany.
The international prize, issued by Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, is awarded to companies for projects that help to increase energy efficiency and considerably reduce energy consumption.
The SMA inverter factory is the world’s largest, with an annual production capacity of up to five gigawatts. The facility occupies 17,930 square metres and has the lowest energy requirements and highest efficiency of consumed energy currently possible for a factory of its size.
The efficient use of daylight, ventilation and storage units for heating and cooling work in conjunction with the energy and building design concepts to maximize efficiency. Part of the factory’s electricity and heat demand is supplied by an integrated 1.1 megawatt solar power system and a combined heat and power plant fueled by bio-gas. Green electricity is also purchased to meet demand over and above what can be generated in-house
The SMA inverter factory incorporates innovations such as excess heat coming from the air compressor used for powered tools and lifting gear being used in the building’s heating system. Additional heat demand is covered by using district heating from a nearby waste incineration plant. An absorption refrigeration machine uses the heat of the combined heat and power plant for air conditioning.
SMA says their energy efficiency associated efforts will continue, with the installation of additional solar power systems to further assist in generating the factory’s power requirements in-house.
