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- Photovoltaic plant will be the third largest PV rooftop system in Germany with a total capacity of 8.5 megawatts on the roofs of Messe Berlin
- Total size of 50,000 m² using around 20,000 Hi-MO X6 modules to be completed in 2025
- Messe Berlin will save around 2,900 tonnes of CO2 per year
Berlin, 18th October 2023 – LONGi Solar, a leading global solar technology company, and VODASUN Group, a photovoltaic specialist based in Munich, will supply Germany’s sixth largest trade fair company Messe Berlin with a 8.5 MW PV rooftop system. The size of the solar system is equivalent to 7 football pitches and produces around 8.5 GWh of electricity per year. The total area is spread over more than 20 buildings deploying around 20,000 of LONGi’s highly efficient Hi-MO X6 back contact modules. After the full commissioning in 2025, Messe Berlin will save around 2,900 tonnes of CO2 per year. This will make Messe Berlin's future major events climate-neutral. The official start of the construction of Germany's third-largest rooftop solar installation began in the presence of representatives from media, politics, businesses, and civil society in Berlin as well as with Berliner Stadtwerke, a public company, who is the tenant of the roofs and the actual project principal.
Most of the electricity produced will be used for sustainable trade fair operations
The solar plant will produce around 8.5 GWh of electricity per year, which corresponds to the consumption of 3,666 two-person households. 80% of the electricity produced will be used on the exhibition grounds and 20% will be fed into the Berlin electricity grid. This way, the Messe Berlin will be reducing its CO2 footprint, making a decisive contribution to the energy transition in Berlin.
"With the Hi-MO X6, Messe Berlin is being equipped with our most climate-friendly and at the same time most powerful module with back contact technology. This advanced technology allows end users to generate more electricity on the same roof surface compared to modules of other manufacturers. This is partly due to busbar-free frontside which means that all metal contacts are positioned on the back of the module. Hence, there is no self-shading as is the case with alternative modules", says Christian Keasler, DACH Sales Manager at LONGi Solar.
Jakob Katzendobler, Chief Executive Officer of the VODASUN Group adds, "We are honoured to be involved in promoting Berlin's sustainability. This project is another milestone for us and our mission to advance the energy transition. For large-scale projects like this to run smoothly, reliable partners and products are key. Therefore, we look forward to working with LONGi Solar, Berliner Stadtwerke, Messe Berlin in the coming months."
Sustainable and economical back contact solar modules for Berlin's energy transition
The modules in the Hi-MO X6 series provide Messe Berlin with a higher power yield on the same, and often limited, roof space. Thanks to the new back contact technology, the modules have excellent low-light performance and are thus remarkably efficient. Consequently, the Levelized Cost of Electricity, (LCOE) is reduced, measured in terms of the acquisition and operating costs in relation to the power produced by the solar energy system. The installation therefore not only enhances Messe Berlin's climate neutrality, but also its economic viability.
The energy yield of the Hi-MO X6 is 6 to 10 % higher compared to alternative modules. The maximum cell efficiency of the Hi-MO X6 with back contact technology currently is 25.5 %. In the medium and long term, this high efficiency also has financial advantages. This module therefore sets new standards in the market for rooftop systems, for which it was specifically developed.
Back contact technology set to become the leading choice in the photovoltaic industry
According to LONGi, over the next five to six years, BC (Back Contact) solar cells, known for their high efficiency and aesthetics, are set to quickly become the leading choice in the photovoltaic industry. With a growing market share, they are poised to emerge as the mainstream technology for crystalline silicon solar cells. LONGi therefore decided to include a substantial portion of BC solar cell technology in its product portfolio. In the first half of 2023, the company started the mass production of its proprietary HPBC (Hybrid Passivated Back Contact) solar cells and has already achieved its target yield and efficiency. By the end of 2023, an HPBC production capacity of 30 GW will be in full operation and the majority of LONGi’s overall production capacity will be dominated by Back Contact solar cell technology in the future.
Media contact
LONGi Solar
Nadine Bütow
Head of European Communications (DG)
Timo Helmke
PR Manager Europe (DG)
About LONGi
Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.
Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com
