At the start of the Intersolar Europe, particularly innovative solutions in the areas ‘Photovoltaics’ and ‘Solar Projects in Europe’ received the Intersolar Award. The prize was awarded for the eighth time as part of an official ceremony at the trade fair’s Innovation Exchange.
The exhibiting companies at all Intersolar trade fairs worldwide were called upon to demonstrate their outstanding innovations to the jury. In order to be eligible to apply, the submitted products, projects, services and solutions had to be in the testing phase or already in the field. In addition, it either had to be the first time they were displayed at the Intersolar or they had to be significant further developments of existing products. On top of that, the solar projects had to have been fully implemented during the last two years. The evaluation criteria were based on existing challenges on the market. The areas evaluated included the level of technological innovation, benefit for industry, environment and society, economic efficiency, and proof of innovation.
The relatively new Californian manufacturer HiQ Solar won an Intersolar Award in the ‘PV’ category for its three-phase inverter TrueString 480V, LG Electronics Deutschland GmbH won it for the PV module MonoX NeON 2 and REC Solar EMEA GmbH received the award for its TwinPeak module. The winners in the category ‘Solar Projects in Europe’ are IBC Solar AG for its project ‘EnFa – The Energy Factory’, solarnova Deutschland GmbH for its ‘Aktiv-Stadthaus’ in the Gutleutviertel district of Frankfurt and Ritter Energie- und Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG together with Ritter XL Solar GmbH, the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT, GEA Wiegand GmbH and the University of Karlsruhe, which jointly implemented a project for solar air conditioning in buildings.
Lightweight and durable: An inverter for industrial rooftop installations
The three-phase inverter TrueString 480V from HiQ Solar was designed primarily for industrial rooftop systems. It is equipped with two independent 1000-V DC inputs with individual MPP tracking. Cutting-edge semiconductor technology based on silicon carbide gives it a CEC efficiency rating (in accordance with the California Energy Commission) of 98% as well as a high power density. The device only weighs 11 kg and is so robust that it can even be used in extreme desert and coastal conditions.
Cleverly wired: CELLO makes for a more sustainable module
LG Electronics was able to increase the efficiency of the MonoX NeON 2 module while reducing the amount of materials used to manufacture it, allowing the module to be produced and sold at a cheaper price in the future. Its CELLO technology uses twelve wires to make contact with the front side of the cells. The wires reflect the incoming light, thereby optimising solar power generation. “This solution puts LG at the forefront of a technology that is currently being discussed by many people and will likely be used increasingly in the future,” the jury said.
First cut in half, then soldered back together: a useful innovation in module technology
To manufacture its TwinPeak module, REC Solar first cuts the PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) cells in half and then solders them together again, creating a low-loss electrical connection. In addition, four busbars make the electrical connection to the cells instead the three that were used previously. Also, two separate junction boxes are connected to each terminal pole. Thanks to this electrical connection concept, the TwinPeak modules have an output 10 W higher than standard modules.
Brave pioneering: decentralised supply using renewable energy is possible
‘EnFa – The Energy Factory’ from IBC Solar is a further step towards off-grid operation of commercial enterprises. The building, which was constructed in Neuenstadt am Kocher in 2014, generates all of the energy it needs for heating, cooling, e-mobility and electricity requirements itself. Biogas is used to cover its energy requirements during months when the yield is low. This is made possible by a smart energy management system that integrates the photovoltaics, power storage, combined heating and power plant as well as heat pumps. EnFa is proof that it is possible to implement a decentralised energy supply in Germany that is based purely on renewable sources, is uninterrupted, provides a stable local grid, and has low costs.
Everything planned for: block of flats in Frankfurt produces an energy surplus
The ‘Aktiv-Stadthaus’, which solarnova participated in building, generates more energy than the residents of the 75 flats consume. Passive efficiency through insulation as well as active energy generation are perfectly combined in this ‘Efficiency House Plus’. The most innovative part of this concept is that the energy requirements of the users as well as urban planning integration were taken into consideration during the design phase. “The Aktiv-Stadthaus clearly demonstrates that the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive for the year 2020 can be achieved,” the jury said of their reasons for giving the project the Intersolar Award.
Strong partners: consortium combines various new developments
The joint project for solar air conditioning in buildings, which uses a solar collector array with plasma technology to generate steam, convinced the jury. Its key component is a high-efficiency vacuum tube collector. Thanks to its special anti-reflective coating, the collector can even achieve a remarkable level of efficiency at temperatures between 100 and 150 ° C. In addition, a steam jet ejector chiller with a cooling capacity of 80 kW that was designed specifically for the project is installed. The solution is complemented by a specially developed heating and cooling storage system, which provides largely consistent operating conditions. The solar thermal system impressively demonstrates that it is possible to provide effective, economical and environmentally friendly air conditioning using solar energy, even with German weather conditions.
Katharina Garus
Intersolar Award: And the winner is ...
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