Generally

The lockdown in the corona pandemic has shown that regenerative energies are more crisis-proof than coal and oil. The worldwide expansion of renewable energies is still in positive territory and the International Energy Agency expects growth of 5%. Electricity consumption fell, but the feed-in of renewable energies into the power grid is up to 80%.

“Due to the falling electricity consumption during the crisis, many classic power plants were not started up. It is not worth it because the operating costs are too high. Renewables are more stable and crisis-resistant and, thanks to their decentralization, have a further crisis advantage over large power plants. I'm thinking of attacks on the critical infrastructure here, decentralized systems are much less in focus here, ”explains Martin Tauschke SUNfarming Managing Director and co-founder.
"In addition, power plants need employees to operate and if they cannot work, e.g. if the minimum distance cannot be maintained, the plants stand still. Regardless of this, PV systems continue to feed in“, Martin Tauschke continues.

3.5 tons of corn flour were donated to Uganda.
The truckloads were handed over to the district government of the affected Covid19 region Adjumani on May 1st, 2020. The 30 MWp Food & Energy plant planned by SF will also be built here.
The corn flour was handed over by Prince Kimbugwe Edward, SUNfarming Managing Director Uganda, to the Kalungu district board to support poor communities.
Minister of Agriculture Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki and RDC Mr. Tukikiriza Kerebu, members of the Covid 19 District Task Force of the President of Uganda, are responsible for distributing the donations. They thanked SUNfarming GmbH and SF Uganda for the quick and unbureaucratic help.

SUNfarming successfully completed seven new projects in the auction system. The latest projects are located in the provinces of Lower Silesia, Greater Poland, Lodz and Lublin. These are three 1-megawatt solar parks erected in the Lask district of Lódz, as well as four 1-megawatt investments in the provinces of Dolnoslaskie and Lubelskie. In line with the auction commitments, all seven solar parks started producing energy in June.

"We are happy about another 7 megawatts of clean energy for Poland. We thank all involved for the efficient and professional cooperation. With a planned PV capacity of 1.2 GW by 2020 with currently only about 360 MW of installed capacity, Poland represents an important future market for us, "said Martin Tauschke, Managing Director of SUNfarming GmbH and SUNfarming Polska sp.zoo.. "Further,we were able to secure 35 megawatt solar parks during the auction process in November; the planned investments are to be completed by the end of 2019 / beginning of 2020. However, we do not want to rely only on the Polish auction process, but also rely on PPA's (Power Purchase Agreements) for the development of larger projects, "explains Martin Tauschke.

The Polish auctioning system of procurement and an internal policy based on renewable energies allow SUNfarming as a medium-sized company to support the expansion of renewable energies and to make profitable investments in Poland. SUNfarming started the construction of the first 4 megawatt solar parks in Poland at the end of December 2018. By winning the tender, all PV parks benefit from a 15-year "contract for differences" with the Polish Energy Agency URE, which guarantees a fixed feed-in tariff for each kWh produced by paying the difference to the market price.

Photovoltaics is becoming increasingly important among renewable energy sources in Poland as it is the cheapest energy that can be obtained with existing technologies. In addition, the use of fallow land and soils with low soil quality spares agricultural arable land.

For years, the SUNfarming Group has been committed to promoting children's, youth and competitive sport in canoe racing. The general meeting of the Potsdam homeland association of our managing partner Martin Tauschke voted by a large majority on 17 May for the implementation of the SUNfarming Direct Electricity Concept without own investment, together with a subsidy for the roof renovation from the one-off lease.

The financial possibilities of many sports clubs are just sufficient to secure the daily training and competition operation, also thanks to a high honorary commitment. For refurbishments due, there is usually no or not enough capital available. The SUNfarming Direct Electricity Concept significantly relieves the sports club - the one-off lease payments under the roof lease cover a large part of the roof renovation costs due and, in addition, reduce the electricity costs by 10% for the kilowatt hours consumed in the following years. The investment of the solar system takes over the SUNfarming, so that there are no costs to the clubs here.

"I am pleased that I can give my home club the opportunity of the SUNfarming Direct Electricity Concept with roof renovation subsidy via SUNfarming. With a planned installation of 475 kWp, we can provide the association with approx. 50% of the annual electricity consumption of approx. 60,000 kWh, which is 10% cheaper than the current procurement costs. The excess solar energy is fed into the public grid. The implementation of the project is planned for the second half of this year, "says Martin Tauschke, Managing Director of SUNfarming GmbH. There are still many canoe and other sports clubs not only in the state of Brandenburg, which face similar challenges. Of course, SUNfarming also offers the same concept to them - please contact us.

Martin Tauschke thanks his Potsdam hometown club and wins the silver medal at 200m in a one-kayak at the weekend - a double success for SUNfarming and the Potsdam Canoe Club.

Find out more about the SUNfarming Direct Electricity Concept

The demand for on-roof PV systems for residential, commercial and industrial buildings with an installed capacity of less than 750 kWp have risen sharply in recent years.
For the electricity of rooftop photovoltaic systems with an installed capacity of less than 750 kilowatts peak (kWp), the operator receives a fixed remuneration in accordance with the Renewable Energies Act (EEG). In contrast, the operator of a plant with an installed capacity of more than 750 kilowatts peak must take part in a tendering procedure, whereby the level of support for the installations is determined in a competition.
Tenders are very expensive, the electricity produced may not be used for own use according to the EEG and the amount of subsidy depends on the cheapest provider.
Another advantage of rooftop systems compared to open space PV systems is that no building application has to be made for the construction.
A 750 kWp photovoltaic system can produce an average of 700,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which corresponds to a power consumption of around 250 households
Photovoltaic systems (PV systems) make an important contribution to climate protection. In 2017, more than 39,300 gigawatt hours of electricity were generated by PV systems in Germany, which can supply around 12 million households.

Hankering for fresh, rooftop harvested vegetables seasoned with homegrown herbs? Then you’re in the right place at the Estrel! Not only does our rooftop offer a phenomenal view of Germany’s capital city, but ever since last summer, the hotel’s executive chef, Peter Griebel, has been harvesting organic vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers from the new rooftop greenhouse.
Find the interview with Peter Schrum, SUNfarming company founder and main shareholder, from page 20 onwards and read how the Food & Energy project brings tomatoes to the hotel roof.

Rooftop tomatoes, an Interview with Peter Schrum