Trade + industry

3
Sep

11 megawatt SUNfarming solar parks in Poland on the grid

After the completion of the first 4 megawatt solar parks near the Ostroleka coal-fired power plant at the end of last year, another 7 megawatt SUNfarming solar parks in Poland were connected to the grid in June 2019.The latest investments make SUNfarming with 11 megawatts of existing portfolio one of the largest solar investors in Poland.

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.

29
Jul

SUNfarming Wild Herbs Meadows

SUNfarming plough for biodiversity: Yarrow, toadstool, bee pasture, wild radish, around 80 different wild herbs decorate the meadows and flower strips of our solar parks.

Extinction of pollinator insects threatens to produce $ 235-577 billion a year worldwide, according to the Biodiversity Council. Of 8 million insects, 1 million are threatened with extinction.
In March we started our pilot project "SUNfarming Wild Herbs Meadows - for more biodiversity ". First, the right seed mixture had to be found: it should be perennial and contain many medicinal herbs, bees and insects should find food and shelter throughout the summer, the meadow should be colorful so that also pleases our eyes.
"Skeptically we looked at the small amount of seed ordered: 1 kg for one hectare of arable land! We milled, sown and rolled - and then waited, "says Ursula Eckmann, SUNfarming Marketing.

"It followed a long dry April, on our field was still nothing to see. At the end of May we could see the first tender green and long-awaited rain brought us the sight of a dense herb carpet. The carpet is now more than knee high at the beginning of July and in the photo you can see how colorful it blooms. Bees, beetles, bumblebees, caterpillars and butterflies frolic on the flowers and leaves, with a stature height of about 60 cm, the meadow is an ideal hiding place for animals, "Ursula Eckmann continues.

Many plants are known as medical herbs and can be used to make teas, ointments and tinctures. Marigolds have a disinfectant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing, shepherd's purse contains a lot of vitamin C and a lot of minerals, yarrow was already known in the Middle Ages as a special gypsophila and ribwort helps with itchy mosquito bites. Many of the seeded herbs have a positive effect on the entire cardiovascular system. Rosemary improves blood circulation, oregano soothes and borage counteracts nervous irritation. Frequent use in the kitchen is well worth it.
With a stature height of 60 cm there is no impairment of the performance of the solar modules by shading.
Our solar parks not only generate renewable energy but, at the same time, provide added value for nature through the dual use of the areas. Bloom strips between the rows of modules promote the biodiversity of plants and animals. Herbal mixtures, herbal salads, smoothies or Sunny Wild Honey are produced regionally and sustainably.

SUNfarming Conclusion: Diversity is healthy!

12
Jun

SUNfarming Food & Energy for Albania

At a meeting in Albania with the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Mrs. Belinda Balluku and her advisor Mrs. Evis Berberi, SUNfarming presents Food & Energy

At the end of April, Peter Schrum, the main shareholder of the SUNfarming Group, and Holger Schönherr, SUNfarming project manager, were invited to the Energy Ministry in Albania to introduce SUNfarming Food & Energy concepts.
During this trip, SUNfarming Albania was founded, which will combine its business activities in Albania with local cooperation partners.
Minister Balluku was very interested and expressed her support for the realization of Food & Energy in Albania

5
Jun

Double success for SUNfarming

The general meeting of the Potsdam Canoe and Sport Boat Club "Wassersportfreunde Pirschheide e.V." agreed on Friday with a large majority to the SUNfarming Direct Electricity Concept with roof renovation subsidy.

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.

22
May

Successful Intersolar 2019 for SUNfarming

In 2019, the SUNfarming Group again participated with a competent team at the world's leading trade fair for the solar industry.

As every year, the interest in our products and projects has been great and our SUN farmers have had many concrete discussions with local and international partners from Europe, Africa and Latin America in order to initiate projects and to further develop current projects. In addition, contacts with suppliers and technical production partners and banks as well as international financing institutions were expanded. The DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank AG) and the ING Bank visited our stand, as well as the international banks FMO (Dutch Development Bank) and the World Bank subsidiary IFC, to discuss the development of relations in the financing of German and international projects of the SUNfarming Group.

Delegations, among others from Angola, Brazil and the Congo, learned in conversations with our expert project managers about the outstanding developmental possibilities of our product
"SUNfarming Food & Energy".

"The demand for on-roof PV systems for commercial and industrial plants with an installed capacity of less than 750 kWp has risen sharply. From December 2018 to February 2019, we completed 9.14 megawatts. Together with the ground-mounted systems with less than 750 kWp, we have a volume of approx. 20 MW in Germany alone, which we realized in our own investment in the last six months, "explains Martin Hinneburg, Head of Purchasing and Calculation.

"We are very satisfied with the fair days! In addition to existing customer care, we were able to make many new contacts, which will be very helpful to us on the path of internationalization of the project business. We will exhibit again at Intersolar next year, "says Martin Tauschke, CEO of SUNfarming.

9
May

9.14 megawatt SUNfarming PV rooftop systems in Germany

From December 2018 to February 2019, SUNfarming completed 9.14 megawatt rooftop systems in Germany in compliance with the EEG - in time for new special cuts by the legislator. Bank financing for the Group's own investment portfolio was confirmed by GLS Bank in March of this year.

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.