Photovoltaic system to supply Science Park Kassel with green energy in future

The Science Park Kassel, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, is a unique location in Germany's start-up landscape with an area of 6,200 square meters on the campus of the University of Kassel. Around 50 companies are currently based here, including numerous start-ups and spin-offs from the university. "Many of these companies are actively contributing to the sustainability and climate-friendliness of our future with their innovative solutions," says Jörg Froharth, Co-Managing Director of the center. The Science Park - together with the Technology and Start-up Center Kassel (FiDT) - is one of the most important locations in the regional start-up scene and one of the three largest facilities of its kind in Hesse. With the installation of the photovoltaic system, the center is now taking an important conceptual step in heat and power supply, says Co-Managing Director Kai Lorenz Wittrock: "We are following the same path with the Technology and Start-up Center FiDT. Together with Science Park partner House of Energy, we are planning an energy digital twin to outline the technological future of the Marbachshöhe site."

A total of 224 solar modules with an output of almost 100 kWp were installed on the roof of the Science Park. They will produce around 82,000 kWh per year, almost all of which will be consumed in the building complex "Our tenants not only focus on innovation, but also take responsibility - this is reflected in their desire for more sustainability and the consistently positive re-registration of the PV system," says Anja Flörke, authorized signatory of the Science Park. This means that another building on the university campus is now equipped with modern solar technology. Chancellor Dr. Oliver Fromm sees this as a valuable addition to the environmentally friendly orientation of the University of Kassel: "We want to play a pioneering role in the energy transition. Producing clean energy for our own consumption is an important part of our sustainability concept."

The Science Park has a strong regional partner for the operation of the photovoltaic system in the form of Städtische Werke from Kassel. "Decarbonization poses challenges for many companies. We offer them a wide range of solutions to meet the individual requirements on the path to climate neutrality, including economically," says Markus Jungermann, Head of Renewable Energies and Innovations. "In our collaboration with the Science Park, we see ourselves as consultants, implementers and partners."

For Kassel, the installation of the photovoltaic system is a further building block on the road to climate neutrality, as Lord Mayor Sven Schoeller explains: "The Science Park impressively demonstrates that start-ups in Kassel can work with renewable energies in the future." Start-ups could develop independently of fossil fuels and make a contribution to making the city climate-neutral. "Renewable energies are an economic factor of the future," adds Matthias Nölke, Head of Economic Affairs: "The new PV system on the Science Park Kassel is therefore a clear commitment to a responsible economic policy: reliable, innovative, sustainable. This project shows how modern start-up support works."