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Solar system
October 2005
Excerpt from local newspaper, the Westfalenpost
BRISTA creates its own power
Largest photovoltaic system joins the grid on the 10,000 m² roof
The metal works factory "Franz Brinkmann GmbH" (BRISTA) of Oesterweg has always seen itself as being a modern and environmentally-conscious company, which invests in the "future for man and the environment". After construction of the large galvanizing plant six years ago, company boss Dieter Brinkmann and his team are now focusing on producing their own electricity. The largest photovoltaic system on a medium-sized industrial company in North Rhine Westphalia was recently put into operation at the Höingen Industrial Park !
Since June, 2,000 modules from the companies Sharp and Shell have been installed on the roof, with an approximate area of 10,000 m² . The solar traps jointly equate to a size of 2,300 m² and should generate a total of 300,000 kwhr of electricity each year - around 60 times as much as a private household consumes.
Brinkmann has invested a total of around EUR 1.2 million in modules and connectors; the sub-structure and, as such, the framework was built in-house by BRISTA employees.
In-house craftsmen also took over installation and provided the entire roof skin with a reflective coating designed to reduce the roof temperature in order to ensure optimum performance of the modules.
The power generated on the roof is fed into the public grid via the company's own transformer. Brinkmann is a major electricity customer, which consumes around 2 million kwhr each year for the galvanizing plant, ventilation system, forming machinery, presses and welding equipment.
In the scope of the investment Brinkmann took advantage of North Rhine Westphalia state legislation passed in 2004. It guarantees photovoltaic electricity generation at a fixed feed price of currently about EUR 0.52 per kwhr for 20 years.
The system now enables the Höingen based company to reduce the steadily rising energy costs for many years in order to remain competitive with BRISTA products. The investment, therefore, also contributes to the preservation of jobs.
