Solar power

The few clouds and recent showers can not hide the fact that it is sun-time - and not just in North Rhine-Westphalia. Almost everywhere, the sun is currently shining twelve or more hours a day. The photovoltaic systems installed in Germany produced a total of 6.7 terawatt hours of solar power in July 2018 - an all-time record. The National Renewable Energy Council (LEE) sees great opportunities for photovoltaics in NRW, especially in the

 Connection with electromobility: "Especially the cities could benefit significantly," says CEO, pointing out that electric cars drive quiet and emission-free. Bye, traffic noise!

Economy Minister Pinkwart (FDP) wants to present a potential study for solar energy in NRW after the summer (the NRZ reported). For the Ruhr area, there has been such a thing for some time, created on behalf of the regional association there. 1.1 million roofs are therefore suitable for solar energy production, but actually only 40 000 are used for it and are equipped with a system. "Especially in this densely populated region, there is great potential," says Dobertin.

11 500 plants were added in 2017 in NRW

In a national comparison, NRW is currently ranked third in solar energy, behind Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. There are currently 252,365 plants with 4618 megawatts of total output installed in NRW - enough for the annual electricity requirement of one million four-person households. Almost 11 500 plants with almost 200 megawatts were added in 2017 - most in the administrative district of Münster, and especially in the district of Borken.

What many private individuals do not know: In the home area are the prices for

 installed photovoltaic systems have tumbled over the past ten years - by about 75 percent. According to LEE, a plant with 5 kWp power (annual power output 4500 kilowatt hours) is available from 6000 euros, one with 10 kWp power from 10 000 euros. For comparison: A four-person household needs according to the information 4000 kilowatt-hours / year, an e-car at 10 000 kilometers mileage 1700 kilowatt hours per year in addition.

Especially the interplay of photovoltaic systems and e-mobility pays off according to LEE (see the background). Individual companies on the Rhine and Ruhr have already discovered that, others should follow. Dobertin is campaigning for companies to equip their operating roofs with photovoltaic systems and company parking spaces with charging stations so that parked commuter vehicles can use the sun's rays there.


Positive accents

With the state-owned program for charging stations, the NRW government has set the first positive incentives, which should not only be used by companies, but also by private individuals. that the state of North Rhine-Westphalia leads by example and equips the state-owned buildings as far as possible with solar systems and charging stations.
Keyword E-Mobility: This is still a delicate little plant, but it is growing. The number of new registrations of purely battery-powered vehicles has increased in North Rhine-Westphalia from 1814 in 2016 to 4291 in 2017.

The vehicle inventory has thus increased within a year by 50 percent, to approximately 9500 battery-powered vehicles. NRW recently had about 4200 public and semi-public charging points.

 For a euro to work and back: commuters who make their way to work with a solar-powered electric car, according to a sample calculation of the National Association for Renewable Energy (LEE) neatly save money.

The bill is based on 50 kilometers commuter route. For a gasoline engine with an average consumption of 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers and a current price of 1.48 euros per liter of super, you come at a daily cost of four euros.

By contrast, solar power could be generated with a well-planned photovoltaic system for ten cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). An e-car consumes - conservatively estimated - about 20 kWh / 100 km. At 50 kilometers of commuter line you get there on daily costs of one euro, so 75% savings.