Around 80 solar film modules are now generating renewable energy on a 27m-high chimney at Cologne Bonn Airport’s combined heat and power plant (CHP). The total collector area of the new photovoltaic system is around 70sqm and the individual modules have been installed facing south on the curved surface of the CHP chimney. The special solar film can be used on roofs, facades, and surfaces that do not allow conventional photovoltaic solutions due to their statics and properties.
“Here we are testing a new, green product that can complement our existing rooftop photovoltaic systems,” said Thilo Schmid, Chairman of the Management Board, Flughafen Köln/Bonn GmbH. “The expansion of solar power is a central component of the sustainability activities that are firmly anchored in our corporate strategy. We are continuously identifying further potential in this field.”
The pilot plant generates up to 4,400kWh per year, which roughly covers the energy requirements of a household. The films developed by Heliatek adhere thanks to an integrated adhesive backing that does not require any special substructure. The CO₂ footprint of a ‘HeliaSol’ solar film is less than 10g CO₂ per kilowatt hour of solar power generated.
The airport will be investing many millions of euros in its energy infrastructure over the coming years in order to reduce consumption and become less dependent on fossil fuels. In addition to the continuous expansion of its photovoltaic systems, the airport is also focusing on emission-free heating and cooling using ice storage technology in combination with PV systems and heat pumps. Furthermore, the airport has invested in a substation and is building a new wood-fired power plant.
