SolarCampus project studies
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solarcampus...
... is a practice- and implementation-oriented project study program that has been offered at the University of Kassel for students of various disciplines since winter semester 05/06.
... pursues the overarching goals of
- to implement sustainable projects at the University of Kassel, thereby strengthening the environmental profile of the University of Kassel and also helping to reduce the burden on the university budget.
- to raise awareness among students and university staff for renewable energies and the rational use of energy in the immediate working environment.
- to promote the necessary social and professional skills of students for interdisciplinary teamwork.
- generate supra-regional attention with pioneering projects.
The lecturers of the Solarcampus project studies were awarded the Hessian University Prize for Excellence in Teaching 2020. On 02.07.2020, the Hessian Minister for Science and Art, Angela Dorn, presented the 1st prize.
The Hessian University Prize for Excellence in Teaching is awarded by the responsible state ministry in the categories of working group/organizational unit and student initiative. This year, the award ceremony took place at the Ministry of Science and Art in Wiesbaden in a very exclusive setting, so that the applicable hygiene and distancing rules could be observed.
Professors Klaus Vajen (Mechanical Engineering) and Astrid Dannenberg and Heike Wetzel (Economics) were honored. As part of the teaching award, the three departments will receive prize money of 60,000 euros.
Both the lecturers and the students involved are delighted to receive this award. After 30 semesters in which, for example, the study of energy efficiency in the Kassel 1 prison or the 'climate campaign' in the BALi cinema were carried out, the Hessian Teaching Award 2020 is the highest form of recognition for excellence in teaching.
The Solarcampus project study at the University of Kassel was launched in the winter semester of 2005/06 based on a diploma thesis on the investigation of photovoltaic potential on the roofs of the University of Kassel and possible financing models by Prof. Dr. Klaus Vajen. In the first phase, which lasted until the summer semester of 2007, photovoltaic systems with a total output of 66 kWp were planned and implemented on three buildings at the University of Kassel and equipped with system visualization and monitoring. The entire financing of € 350,000 was secured through private citizen participation. The capital invested will be repaid over 20 years with an interest rate of 4 - 6 %.
Since the 2007/08 winter semester, the focus of the project studies has been on energy efficiency at the University of Kassel. In addition to analyzing consumption data for electricity, heat and water and designing efficiency measures to conserve resources and protect the environment, the student working groups also focused on creating building energy certificates based on this data. In this phase of the project studies, the students were thus able to actively contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of the University of Kassel and the Studierendenwerk Kassel and at the same time help to compensate for rising energy prices.
As the students were able to identify more optimization potential on campus than the university's property management could implement in the same amount of time, a third phase of the Solar Campus finally began in the 2009/10 winter semester. In cooperation with regional partners outside the university, consumption analyses were carried out in municipal and non-profit institutions, energy and water-saving measures were derived and sustainable, low-CO2 energy supply concepts with a high proportion of renewable energies were developed. In addition to technical and economic aspects, some collaborations also addressed social issues aimed at involving users, residents and inmates in saving energy by changing their behavior. The cooperation with the Kassel 1 prison and the Filmladen Kassel e.V. arthouse cinema are particularly noteworthy in this regard. Further information can be found under Highlights.
Since the second phase of the Solarcampus, project studies have been supplemented by courses on project, time and team management, which have always been rated very positively by the students. Dieter Kreibaum, a professional trainer in this field from the Göttingen region, has been responsible for this task for many semesters.
The Solarcampus project course is offered every semester for students of Faculties 15 (Thermal Energy Technology) and 07 (Economics). As a practice-oriented course, it gives participants the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have acquired in practice in the "protected environment" of the university.
Unlike in traditional courses, students work in the style of an engineering office. This requires a high degree of initiative and self-organization. In this way, participants not only acquire task-specific specialist knowledge, but also learn typical processes and skills that are often required in their future careers.
As a rule, the questions to be answered cannot be completed in one semester, which is why several generations of students are involved in the process. In order to ensure continuity of content and prevent loss of information between semester groups, a coordinated schedule has been developed for Solarcampus (see below).
The seamless transition between participants from successive semesters takes place during a handover event, which is held at the beginning of each semester. At this event, the working groups from the previous semester present their results as well as an overview of the questions still to be answered. They also pass on important detailed knowledge to the following students. Depending on the semester perspective, the handover event is both a final and a kick-off event.
Despite the required independence, regular project meetings with lecturers are important for the success of the project. However, the lecturers act more as discussion partners and advisors who provide support and only intervene when necessary. Another key component of the teaching concept is the intensive support provided by a professional trainer with a focus on project management. In intensive small group meetings during the semester, students share their experiences in the project and as a team with the trainer. In this way, any problems that arise can be addressed quickly and the students' wishes regarding content can be taken into account.
Experience has shown that between 10 and 20 students per semester take part in the course, which has been offered since the winter semester 05/06. Between two and six credit points can be earned - depending on the individual workload and time required (30 hours = 1 CP). The workload is documented by time sheets, as in an engineering office. The examination work to be completed by the students includes active participation in group meetings, presentations during the semester, the preparation of a final report as well as the presentation of results to the client and the handover to subsequent semester groups. In the Solarcampus project course, students have the opportunity to assess themselves and their performance in the context of the group and submit realistic grade proposals. These usually correspond surprisingly well with the final individual grades awarded by the lecturers.
The interdisciplinary nature of the course brings together different skills. Students from the Master's degree courses in Mechanical Engineering, Renewable Energies, Sustainable Management and Business and Engineering work together in small groups (usually 3 to 4 per semester) on the assignments. In addition to technically oriented project teams, there are also more economically oriented working groups that deal with the financing and implementation of identified measures, behavioral economic studies and the preparation of climate balances. By focusing on energy efficiency, the Solarcampus project study program also makes a contribution to sustainable development and climate protection in the region.
Highlights - special projects
From the winter semester 2005/06 to the summer semester 2007, photovoltaic systems for climate-friendly power generation with a total output of 66 kWp were installed on three university buildings. The total investment costs of almost 350,000 euros were secured solely through private citizen participation. The loans are paid back to the investors over a term of 20 years with an interest rate of between 4% and 6% from the income generated by the systems.
The driving force behind the project was the students involved. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Klaus Vajen, over 40 students from a wide range of disciplines were involved in the planning and implementation of the project during its 1.5-year phase. In the project teams, students from the Regenerative Energies and Energy Efficiency (re2), Business Law, Ecological Agricultural Sciences, Architecture and Product Design courses worked closely together. The diversity of disciplines enlivened the entire process from the preliminary planning to the final implementation of the systems and deepened the understanding of the different ways in which the disciplines work.
The systems have now fed around 750,000 kWh of climate-friendly electricity into the public grid (as of 08/2019). Information on yields and many more details on the installed PV systems can be viewed here:
SUNNYPORTAL from SMA Solar Technology AG
The Solarcampus project has brought together members of the university, citizens and regional businesses, thereby strengthening Kassel as an attractive and vibrant location for pioneering environmental technologies and projects.
"I had the opportunity to take part in the Solarcampus right at the beginning of my project studies, when it came to the realization of the second largest photovoltaic system in Hesse at the time on the university campus. Through my role as coordinator of the student groups on the various thematic focuses, I was able to gain valuable initial experience in leading groups during my studies, which helped me a lot in my personal development and my later professional orientation. I can therefore only recommend all students who have the opportunity to take part in the Solarcampus project study program to take advantage of this opportunity."
Claudia Rose, Climate Protection Manager of the state capital Potsdam, Solarcampus WS 2006/07
In 2010, the University of Kassel's building stock was spread across a total of seven properties in the city of Kassel and two more in the town of Witzenhausen. At that time, around 85 buildings with a net floor area of almost 300,000m2 were used by the university. Almost 40 % of the buildings, or around 45 % of the building space, were located at the Holländischer Platz site. This was followed by the Aufbau- und Verfügungszentrum (AVZ) with around 20 % of the space and the former engineering school and the art college with around 10 % each.
As part of a rough analysis of the properties of the University of Kassel, the final energy consumption was evaluated by energy source and allocated to the individual sites and buildings. Based on this, specific consumption figures were drawn up and compared with benchmarks. An estimate of potential was derived from the results. A comparison with other universities showed that the University of Kassel has relatively low thermal and electrical consumption figures overall, both in terms of area-specific figures and those relating to the number of students. The reason for this is, on the one hand, the relatively young building stock and, on the other, the below-average proportion of subjects with high technical requirements (natural sciences, engineering, medicine). At building level, a very heterogeneous picture emerged for the specific energy consumption values. Overall, most buildings show plausible values without any anomalies and are in the range of typical reference values. This leads to the conclusion that the focus of further detailed analyses should be placed on large-scale consumers.
Overall, there were many indications that the potential for economically viable energy savings in both thermal and electrical energy consumption is significant. Based on the final energy benchmarks, the economically viable energy saving potential for the entire building stock of the University of Kassel was estimated to be at least 10 % of the district heating and fuel consumption at the time and at least 15 % of the electrical energy consumption at the time.
The Solarcampus students identified a large number of technical efficiency measures and supported their implementation. The largest potential savings are shown in the table above (which can be enlarged).
"As part of the Solarcampus project studies, our group analyzed the energy and water consumption of the University of Kassel's sites, carried out comparisons with comparable properties using benchmarks and identified particularly critical buildings in terms of energy and water consumption. In particular, the analysis of the energy efficiency of the properties at the University of Kassel was the foundation stone for my later doctorate at the University of Kassel, during which I was able to accompany many exciting energy efficiency topics as part of the Solarcampus as a lecturer. My first job after my doctorate as an energy efficiency manager at the Free University of Berlin directly followed on from this. Even in my current job at the Brandenburg Ministry of Economic Affairs, I still benefit from my Solarcampus experience from time to time."
Dr.-Ing. Philipp Emmerich, consultant at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy of the State of Brandenburg, Solarcampus WS 2007/08 and 2009-2014
On the initiative of the "Green Prison Group", a project was launched in the summer semester of 2015 in collaboration with Kassel Prison 1. Over a total of five semesters, students examined the current state of the prison, developed efficiency measures and investigated financing options for the identified measures.
Kassel Prison 1 in the Wehlheiden district is a panoptic building constructed in 1873 that can currently hold up to 500 prisoners. Due to the size of the facility, which also includes a hospital, a kitchen and laundry as well as workshops with workstations for the prisoners, the prison is one of the largest consumers of energy and water in Kassel.
Due to the rough meter structure, the focus of the first semester was on taking stock, identifying major consumers and, as far as possible, recording the respective water and energy consumption. Based on this, various measures to save water, energy and therefore costs were developed and evaluated. Particular attention was paid to a short amortization period, as the prison is currently being completely renovated in stages, which is expected to take until the mid-2030s, which is why measures with long amortization periods are difficult to implement. However, ideas that could be incorporated into the refurbishment concept were also developed and presented.
Among the identified efficiency potentials, the replacement of the exterior and corridor lighting, the renewal of the 70-year-old, single-glazed corridor windows, water-saving measures in the cells and showers and the optimization of the ventilation system in the prison's own hospital are particularly noteworthy.
In addition to the technical measures, financing options and incentive models for implementing the proposed improvements were also an important aspect of the solar campus in the prison, as this is a situation in which no one on site in the prison would benefit directly from the savings: On-site staff have a significantly different work focus, inmates have no direct incentive to participate in the efficient use of energy and water by changing their behavior, and savings would not remain with the prison management - not even proportionally - for free use in the prison.
For the students working in the prison, it was not only an exciting project from a technical and economic perspective, but also offered the opportunity to gain exciting social experience in the day-to-day running of a prison.
The technical and economic results of the project study were not only very interesting for the prison manager, Mr. Meister, but also aroused great interest on the political side. The students had the opportunity to present the results in a short presentation to Eva Kühne-Herrmann, then Minister of Justice of the State of Hesse, and Karin Müller, a member of the Green Party in the state parliament.
"I opted for the Solarcampus project study program because it allowed me to work independently with a practical focus during my studies. In a small group, we were able to identify efficiency potential in electricity and water consumption, as well as in heating systems. In addition to this technical level, our experiences were primarily of an interpersonal nature. The interaction with our contacts in the prison, but especially with the inmates, was particularly interesting."
Weena Bergsträßer, research assistant at the University of Kassel, Solarcampus WS 2015/16
Building on previous semester work, the Solarcampus project team carried out a climate campaign in the summer semester of 2018 together with Filmladen Kassel e.V., consisting of the cinemas Filmladen, Gloria and BALi. This took place in the BALi cinema and aimed to support the cinema group in its goal of being able to offer aCO2-neutral cinema experience in the long term. Cinema-goers in particular were involved in the project.
The campaign took place from August 23 to September 12, 2018 in the BALi cinema at Kassel's main train station. During this time, the films "BlacKkKlansman", "Grüner wird's nicht" and "Egal was kommt" were shown there. All the important information about the campaign was presented in an information flyer. Of course, participation was voluntary and anonymous.
Students from the Solarcampus group and university staff, who supported the Solarcampus team in carrying out the campaign, were on hand to ask participants to complete a questionnaire. The following six questions were asked: Approximately how many times a year do you go to the cinemas Filmladen, BALi, Gloria including the Open Air? How did you get here tonight? How many people, excluding yourself, did you come here tonight and what is your relationship with them? On a scale of 1 (not at all serious) to 5 (extremely serious), how serious do you think the problem of climate change is? What is your zip code? What is your year of birth? Gender was also noted.
After answering the questions, the employee explained that contributions were being collected to help the cinema group become climate neutral in the long term. It was also explained that the cinema group would like to reduce itsCO2 emissions, for example through the increased use of clean technologies. All visitors were then asked whether they would like to make a contribution to achieving the climate neutrality target.
The climate campaign was well received by moviegoers. 938 people took part in the campaign and donated a total of € 3150.91 to support the cinema group's climate neutrality goal. The participants were 48% male and 52% female. The average age was 48 years. The other results are summarized in the figure "Results of the climate campaign".
"Working at the Solarcampus event was both stimulating and challenging. In intensive coordination with the supervisors, we as a team designed, prepared and ultimately conducted a survey of moviegoers with around 900 participants. In addition to the experience I gained, I particularly benefited from the fact that I was able to analyze the data collected as part of my Master's thesis. The Solarcampus event therefore had a positive impact on my education and my degree in many respects."
Sina Haas, student on the Master's in Sustainable Management, Solarcampus SS 2018
More info
Winter semester 2022/2023
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Kassel State Theater |
| Topic and task | Systematic recording of the energy flows of the State Theater. Collected measurement data is subjected to a benchmarking process in order to compare it with comparable properties. Identification of relevant consumers and resulting proposals for energy optimization. |
Summer semester 2022
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Municipality of Niederkaufungen |
| Topic and task | Based on the results from the winter semester 2021/2022, a solar thermal system is being designed for the municipality of Niederkaufungen on the roof of the main wing. The dimensions of the existing storage tanks will also be reviewed and alternative storage concepts developed. The overarching goal is to completely cover the heating and hot water requirements from April to September with solar energy. |
Winter semester 2021/2022
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Bonpâtis confectionery, Free Waldorf School Kassel, Municipality of Niederkaufungen |
| Topic and task | CO2 balancing of a product of the Bonpâtis confectionery and derivation of measures to reduce the environmental impact. Drawing up an energy balance and recording three measures to reduce the confectionery's energy consumption. Preparation of aCO2 balance for the properties of the Freie Waldorfschule Kassel based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Examination of the possibility of a climate-neutral energy supply (district heating and solar energy) for the school buildings and the derivation of recommendations for action. Preparation of an electricity and heat balance for the buildings of the municipality of Niederkaufungen, including the preparation of a profile with information on building characteristics, use, plant technology and building envelope. Development of aCO2-neutral energy supply system with which the estimated future energy requirements of the municipality can be covered. |
Winter semester 2019/2020
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Building department of the University of Kassel, Kassel Student Union, Filmladen Kassel e.V. |
| Topic and task | Analysis and optimization of the hot water supply from heat recovery and district heating for cleaning the canteen kitchen in the central canteen and preliminary design of a solar thermal system; Supplementing the consumption analysis for compressed air generation in Engineering Sciences I to III with a user survey and data analysis: testing decentralized provision and temporary shutdown; Organization and implementation of the transport campaign designed in summer semester 2019 to investigate the travel behavior of cinema-goers: a large-scale survey with over 650 participants in the BALi cinema. |
Summer semester 2019
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Building department, University of Kassel, City of Kassel, Filmladen Kassel e.V. |
| Topic and task | Analysis and optimization of compressed air generation and distribution in the engineering departments I to III of the University of Kassel; Dimensioning of a solar thermal and a PV system at the municipal building yard; Analysis of the traffic behavior of cinema visitors as a result of the climate campaign: Conception and design of several possible traffic campaigns, one of which is to take place in coordination with the cinema operator in all venues of the cinema group. |
"Even before attending the Solarcampus event, I was very interested in the field of behavioral economics, especially in relation to human environmental behavior, and attended corresponding lectures. As part of the Solarcampus project studies, my team now has the task of creating a traffic concept to offer Kassel cinema-goers incentives to behave in a more environmentally friendly way. It's really exciting to be able to apply the theoretical approaches from lectures in practice and to learn about the opportunities and problems that arise in reality. The fact that our concept may be used and thus hopefully make an active contribution to climate protection in Kassel increases motivation considerably. Participating in the event definitely encourages me in my desire to deal with the topic of environmental behavior professionally."
Eva Weingärtner, student on the Master's in Sustainable Management, Solarcampus SS 2019
"The cinema group around Filmladen Kassel e.V. has been working successfully with the students at the Solarcampus event since 2017. The collaboration began with the technical recording of the energy balances in the three cinemas "BALI", "Gloria" and "Filmladen" and the creation of a sustainability report based on this. In this report, the students identified the cinemas' most important savings potential and contributed to improving their carbon footprints with concrete proposals for action. Following on from this, the behavior of cinema-goers was also included in the Solarcampus groups' horizon of observation. The large-scale survey of visitors, which took place as part of the "Climate Campaign" in fall 2018, met with a varied and consistently positive response. The joint cooperation benefits in particular from the cross-semester structure of the event, which enables work that builds on each other and is time-intensive. The Solarcampus event has brought the cinema group much closer to its goal of a "climate-neutral cinema". We look forward to working with committed students in the coming semesters and generating exciting project results."
Frank Thöner, Managing Director of Filmladen Kassel e.V.
Winter semester 2018/2019
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | City of Kassel |
| Topic and task | Municipal building yard: analysis of required heating load, development of sustainable heat supply system based on pellets & solar thermal energy, investigation of ventilation in damp rooms; Analysis of energy and water consumption in a daycare center in the city of Kassel, development of initial low-investment measures to save energy, concept development for solar thermal energy. |
Summer semester 2018
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Filmladen Kassel e.V. |
| Topic and task | Detailed analysis of the BALi cinema to identify low-investment energy-saving measures Concept development, economic evaluation to optimize the ventilation system and the insulation of the cinema; Analysis of user behaviour: design, organization and implementation of the "climate campaign", a large-scale field experiment with over 900 participants in the BALI cinema. |
Winter semester 2017/2018
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Filmladen Kassel e.V. |
| Topic and task | Energy consumption analysis in three cinemas (BALi, Gloria, Filmladen), identification of main consumers and identification of potential optimization measures; identification of potential savings, analysis of supply chains and preparation of a sustainability report. |
"The Solarcampus project study program was unique in my studies. I was able to learn what it means to set up and carry out a project as a team. The challenge as a team to organize independently and find a common goal helped me to strengthen my skills in the areas of project, time and team management. Seminars in project and time management, which were tailored to our specific challenges, supported this process. The skills I have learned now help me in my research project and I feel better equipped for possible future management tasks. The fact that we were able to make an effective contribution to climate protection at our project partner strengthened our motivation to participate and helped us to keep our eyes on the goal. I was happy to recommend the event to others and will continue to do so."
Philipp Händel, Research Assistant at the University of Kassel, Solarcampus WS 2017/18
Summer semester 2017
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Kassel Prison 1 |
| Topic and task | Analysis of room air conditioning in a prison hospital, identification of efficiency potential. |
"For JVA Kassel I, the cooperation with the Solarcampus Group of the University of Kassel was a great enrichment. The potential savings identified by the students in the areas of electricity, water and heat supply, as well as building insulation, can significantly reduce the energy and water costs of Kassel I Prison. In addition, various options for implementation were identified through the development of suitable financing concepts. Hesse's Minister of Justice Eva Kühne-Hörmann and Karin Müller, member of the state parliament, were among those who took part in one of the final presentations of Solarcampus at our facility and suggested that the Solarcampus concept be transferred to the other fifteen prisons in Hesse. The insight into the processes within the prison as well as the exchange with the staff and the responsible politicians was certainly a horizon-broadening experience for the students. Overall, the cooperation benefited greatly from the mutual exchange between theory and practice, i.e. between the students and lecturers at the University of Kassel and the prison staff. I can therefore only recommend this format of cooperation with the University of Kassel to public bodies and other institutions."
Jörg-Uwe Meister, Head of Kassel Prison I
Winter semester 2016/2017
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Kassel Prison 1 |
| Topic and task | Concept development for shower water heat recovery with heat pump for hot water hot water. |
Summer semester 2016
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Kassel Prison 1 |
| Topic and task | Analysis of the central hot water supply and shower water demand, derivation of optimization measures; Financing options for potential energy and water savings in the prison. |
Winter semester 2015/2016
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Kassel Prison 1, IHK Kassel Marburg |
| Topic and task | Consumption analysis of electricity and drinking water in detention rooms, Department of Saving Measures; Potential analysis of solar process heat in the city and district of Kassel. |
Summer semester 2015
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Kassel Prison 1 |
| Topic and task | Inventory, consumption analysis, identification of immediate measures. |
Winter semester 2014/2015
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | City of Kassel, Municipality of Niestetal |
| Topic and task | Johann-Amos Comenius School: Analysis of heating system, determination of heating load; Analysis, visualization, influencing usage behavior in daycare centers in the municipality. |
"The Department of Urban Development, Construction and Environment of the City of Kassel has been working with Solarcampus for a long time. In various projects, students from the University of Kassel have developed energy concepts, for example for the municipal building yard or the Johann Amos Comenius School. All those involved report an extraordinarily positive and refreshing collaboration with the students and lecturers at the University of Kassel. The students' open-minded view of long-established circumstances and processes has revealed new approaches in several places that would not have been possible without the cooperation within the framework of the financial possibilities. I expressly support further activities of this kind. Our employees are very pleased to continue to be active partners in this innovative teaching and practice concept."
Christof Nolda, Department of Urban Development, Building and Environment of the City of Kassel
Summer semester 2014
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Municipality of Niestetal, Kassel district energy agency |
Topic Topic and task | Analysis of the municipality's multi-purpose hall: lighting, heating, shower water; Intracting Niestetal: financing model for implementing energy efficiency potential. |
"As an economist, I particularly liked the interdisciplinary collaboration with engineers from different disciplines and the exciting question of how to finance the identified efficiency measures in local authorities that have to operate under the conditions of the Hessian municipal protective shield. As a group, we were able to identify the instrument of intracting as a particularly attractive option for implementing ecologically and economically sensible energy efficiency measures for the municipality of Niestetal. Working with the municipality's political decision-makers was also a very interesting experience that still helps me in my day-to-day work today."
Kaya Kinkel, member of the Hessian state parliament since 2017, economic and energy policy spokesperson for the Bündnis90/Die Grünen parliamentary group, Solarcampus SS 2014
"I can really recommend working with Solarcampus to everyone. Under the guidance of the lecturers, the students developed innovative and sometimes surprising ideas and solutions for efficient energy use in various local properties in the municipality of Niestetal. One striking example is the development of a concept for energy-efficient user behavior in the kindergartens in Niestetal. We were impressed by the continuous exchange during the project and the professional preparation and presentation of the numerous project results by the students. This is how I imagine a successful combination of university teaching and practice."
Andreas Siebert, First District Deputy of the Kassel district, Mayor of the municipality of Niestetal from 2006 to 2018
Winter semester 2013/2014
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Municipality of Niestetal, Kassel district energy agency |
| Topic and task | Property analysis of heat and electricity consumption, prioritization of optimization; Local heating concept for group of buildings around the municipality's town hall (fire department, building yard, multi-purpose hall, swimming pool); Financing models for efficiency measures in local authorities with debt brake. |
Summer semester 2013
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Baunataler Diakonie Kassel (bdks), Studierendenwerk Kassel, University of Kassel building department |
| Topic and task | Solar thermal energy in central canteen and bdks canteen: Analysis of domestic hot water, rough dimensioning, operator models; Kassel University boathouse: dimensioning of solar thermal energy and ventilation system. |
"The Solarcampus project study began in 2005 with the aim of designing an energy-efficient university. From the very beginning, we from the university's technical departments have intensively accompanied and supported this course, as it combines study with practice in a unique way. In numerous individual projects, the students have shown where the university can further improve its energy balance. Following the independent planning and installation of several PV systems on the roofs of the university in 2007, a wide range of solutions for various energy-related problems at the university were identified and developed, some of which have already been implemented. The students dealt with the optimization of very different technologies and building uses, such as server cooling in the IT service center, the domestic hot water supply or the local heating network on the main campus. Through the intensive collaboration, the students learned to familiarize themselves independently with completely new areas, to assess their own performance and, in particular, to deal with unexpected problems in the actual implementation. In return, we "practitioners" benefited from the students' analyses, which were based on measurements carried out independently and, in particular, an unbiased view of things. Building on the knowledge gained from Solarcampus, several third-party funded implementation projects to increase energy efficiency at the University of Kassel were acquired."
Klaus Sausmikat, Head of the Department of Construction, Technology and Real Estate at the University of Kassel from 2005 to 2018
Winter semester 2012/2013
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Janitor's office and workshops University of Kassel |
| Topic and task | Hydraulic balancing, night setback, pump replacement heating system Engineering Sciences I Analysis of lighting, domestic hot water supply School of Engineering. |
Summer semester 2012
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering |
| Project partners involved | Kassel Student Union, Real estate management and workshops University of Kassel |
| Topic and task | Analysis of domestic hot water, heating of student residences; Analysis, optimization of building air conditioning & compressed air supply Engineering I. |
Winter semester 2011/2012
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | IT Service and Building Department University of Kassel |
| Topic and task | Analysis, optimization of cooling technology Engineering II; Domestic hot water preparation Engineering III: Analysis and optimization proposals; Refrigeration machines canteen "Bistro K10": Analysis of plant technology, concept for heat recovery; Air conditioning IT service center: analysis and evaluation of redundant cooling system (Green IT). |
Summer semester 2011
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Real estate management and building department University of Kassel |
| Topic and task | Analysis, optimization of cooling technology in engineering sciences I; Analysis of electricity consumption in Engineering III: Identification of major consumers; Energy consumption certificate for office and seminar building. |
Winter semester 2010/2011
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | IT service, building department and workshops at the University of Kassel, Kassel Student Union, GWG Kassel |
| Topic and task | Canteen Engineering School: energy consumption measurements, benchmarking for hot water, cooling and dishwashing technology, optimization; DHW supply Engineering I: consumption measurement, user survey, loss calculation, optimization; Non-profit residential building: analysis of domestic hot water, space heating, thermal losses losses, solar thermal design; Computer center: optimization of cooling supply, air flow, waste heat utilization; Energy demand certificate for university computer center. |
Summer semester 2010
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Building department and IT service of the University of Kassel, Studierendenwerk Kassel, GWG Kassel |
| Topic and task | Detailed planning of solar thermal central canteen; Measurements of energy and water consumption in the cafeteria of the engineering school; Social housing block: concept development Energy consulting for tenants; Analysis of cooling and electricity requirements University computer center; Energy requirement certificates for office building architecture, listed seminar building, Architecture laboratory building. |
Winter semester 2009/2010
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Supply engineering and building department at the University of Kassel, Studierendenwerk Kassel, Non-profit housing association GWG Kassel |
| Topic and task | Design, profitability analysis of cooling and dishwashing technology in the central canteen; Analysis of hot and cold water requirements for canteen Engineering school; Optimization of room air technology Engineering III; Analysis of heat supply and domestic hot water preparation in social housing block with approx. 1,000 residents: Design, funding and operator model solar thermal energy; Energy requirement certificate "International House". |
Summer semester 2009
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Real estate management and building department of the University of Kassel, Kassel Student Union |
| Topic and task | Detailed analysis of electrical energy consumers Engineering II; Heat demand analysis and optimization of central canteen: dishwashing and cooling technology, solar thermal energy; Energy requirement certificates for the architect's building and optimization proposals. |
Winter semester 2008/2009
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Real Estate Management, Building Department and Workshops University of Kassel, Hessian Construction Management HBM, Kassel Student Union |
| Topic and task | Detailed analysis of electrical energy consumers Engineering I; Power consumption analysis of central canteen, identification of main consumers; Public relations website Phase II: Energy efficiency; Prepare energy consumption certificates for engineering school: Zoning, systems engineering, consumption data. |
Summer semester 2008
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and systems engineering FG Rational Energy Conversion |
| Project partners involved | Real estate management and building department of the University of Kassel, Municipal Works Kassel |
| Topic and task | Analysis of energy infrastructure in engineering sciences I, lecture hall centers; Determination of potential energy savings in office areas at the University of Kassel; Energy requirement certificate for central administration at the University of Kassel; PV system at the boathouse of the rowing club Friedrichsgymnasium Kassel. |
Winter semester 2007/2008
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Building Department and Building Technology University of Kassel, ZUB - Center for Environmentally Conscious Building |
| Topic and task | Analysis of energy and water consumption, benchmarking, identification of major consumers at the central campus, art and engineering school; Energy demand certificate Engineering I. |
Summer semester 2007
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Building department, University of Kassel, Solar Roof Invest GmbH |
| Topic and task | Realization of a PV system: installation, commissioning, system monitoring, citizen participation fund 70% oversubscribed, construction of additional systems, inauguration ceremony. |
"As a former environmental coordinator at the University of Kassel, I was involved in several projects of the Solarcampus Group, for example in the installation of photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of 66 kWp on the university library. This system, which was very large by the standards of the time, was installed in 2007 and was also financed by a unique crowdfunding initiative initiated by the students. Overall, the Solarcampus project has made a significant contribution to improving the university's energy and environmental footprint. In addition to the commitment of the students, it is above all the willingness of the teaching staff to constantly seek out new content and ensure the actual implementation of the students' ideas through their commitment that is crucial to the success of the event. Since then, I have continued to follow the students' activities within the framework of Solarcampus beyond the boundaries of the university with great interest."
Dr. Peter Moser, German Federal Environmental Foundation
Winter semester 2006/2007
| Departments at the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Building department, University of Kassel, Solar Roof Invest GmbH |
| Topic and task | Realization of a PV system: financing, approval. |
Summer semester 2006
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Building department University of Kassel |
| Topic and task | Realization of a PV system: cable routing, statics. |
Winter semester 2005/2006
| Departments of the University of Kassel | FG Solar and Systems Engineering |
| Project partners involved | Building department and presidium of the University of Kassel, SMA Solar AG, Wagner and Co Solar Technology |
| Topic and task | Realization of a PV system on buildings of the University of Kassel: technical and financial planning, marketing, public relations. |
Publications
Bastian, O., Rose, C. and K. Vajen (2007), Solarcampus - Students change their university. In Solar Energy, July-August 2007.
Bojanowski, S. and C. Rose (2007), Strom für helle Köpfe - Das Studienprojekt Solarcampus an der Universität Kassel.
Vajen, K., Emmerich, P., Biechele, B., Maas, A. and S. Schlitzberger (2010), Solarcampus - A complementing path for turning universities to renewables and energy efficiency.
Vajen, K., Emmerich, P., Rose, C., Maas, A. and S. Schlitzberger (2009), Solarcampus - Project-based student courses turn a university towards renewables and energy efficiency. Proceedings Solar World Congress, Johannesburg, 2009.
Press article
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (13.10.2015), Energiesparen hinter Gittern - Konzept der Uni Kassel für Einsparungen im Gefängnis / Ministerin greift Idee auf.
Frankfurter Rundschau (23.09.2006), Citizens pay for solar campus.
Frankfurter Rundschau (26.10.2006), 210,000 euros for solar power.
Frankfurter Rundschau (21.04.2007), Solarcampus of Kassel University opened.
Hessische Niedersächsische Allgemeine (26.03.2007), Solarcampus takes shape - First solar panels installed on the roof of the university library.
Hessische Niedersächsische Allgemeine (23.04.2007), From sun to electricity - Unique project: The solar campus was inaugurated at the University of Kassel.
Hessische Niedersächsische Allgemeine (16.07.2009), Stromfressern auf der Spur - Uni Kassel erstellt Energieausweis für ihre Gebäude einer besseren Umwelt zuliebe.
Hessische Niedersächsische Allgemeine (23.10.2015), Saving tips behind bars - Students have investigated energy wastage in Wehlheide prison.
Immobilien Zeitung - Fachzeitschrift für die Immobilienwirtschaft (02.07.2009), Study project: Optimizing your own university.
Publik, Issue 4 (15.05.2007), Energetic future with solar campus. (Kassel university newspaper).
Publik, Issue 6 (07.07.2009), On the way to an energy-efficient university. (Kassel university newspaper).
Solarboulevard, 03/2007, Student-citizen alliance for PV.
| Solar and systems engineering | |
Prof. Dr. Klaus Vajen Tel. (0561) 804 - 3891 Department of Mechanical Engineering | |
| Department of Environmental and Behavioral Economics | |
Prof. Dr. Astrid Dannenberg Tel. (0561) 804 - 3758 Department of Economics | |
| Department of Decentralized Energy Management | |
Prof. Dr. Heike Wetzel Tel. (0561) 804 - 7750 Department of Economics |
Contact for students
| For students from Faculty 15 |
Bastian Schäfer Tel. (0561) 804 - 2508 Department of Solar and Systems Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| For students from department 07 |
Beate Fischer Tel. (0561) 804 - 7941 Department of Microeconomics and Empirical Energy Economics Department of Economics |