EWE increases its commitment to solar energy

In the photovoltaics field EWE also has the necessary expertise to operate large plants and be instrumental in shaping the next wave of photovoltaics technology. In spring 2008 EWE, the Bremen energy services provider swb and SV Werder Bremen announced their joint plans for renovating the Weserstadium in Bremen. The revamped stadium will greet football fans with a freshly designed façade, a new interior and an innovative and eye-catching energy concept. Around 16,000 square metres of solar cells will be installed on the roof and on the south and east façade - the only facility of its kind on a German stadium.

The goal is to fully integrate the photovoltaics system into the construction of the building - quite a challenge. The solar modules will produce by around 840,000 kWh of electricity each year – about as much energy as 250 homes would use in a year - and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 450 tonnes. In June 2009 the Bremer Weser stadium was awarded the "Clean Tech label" by the German Clean Tech Institute for the largest building-integrated photovoltaic system in Germany.

EWE has a long tradition of solar technology use to look back on. EWE constructed its first photovoltaics facility back in the mid 90's; in the meantime there are now facilities at around 50 locations throughout the region. Two of these demonstrate some of the potential uses of photovoltaics: EWE installed a solar panel around 110 square metres in size on the exterior wall of the EWE Arena in Oldenburg which moves in accordance with the position of the sun, thus making optimum use of the sunlight. The photovoltaics facility installed on the noise barrier along the A31 motorway in Emden in 2003 produces 23,000 kWh of electricity each year, enough for seven average households. At the same time it shows how we can make sensible use of areas such as these.

Approximately 200,000 solar cells are to be placed on the roof of the Weser Stadium in Bremen to convert sunlight into electricity.