Kassel University produces its own solar power - support from cdw Foundation

The cdw Foundation is building the photovoltaic (PV) systems worth around 1 million euros successively over the next ten years; the Foundation and the university have now signed a contract to this effect. Construction of the first system will begin in the coming months on the roof of the building on Wilhelmshöher Allee, where the Department of Electrical Engineering/Informatics is located. Other buildings at other locations will follow. When completed, the systems are expected to produce a total of about 600,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year; the university wants to use 100 percent of the regeneratively generated electricity itself. The plants will also be available for research and teaching.

"The North Hesse region is strong in the field of renewable energies. As a university, we provide impetus here through research, teaching and through knowledge transfer. In the future, we also want to make a contribution by producing clean energy for our own consumption," emphasized University of Kassel Chancellor Dr. Oliver Fromm. "We thank the cdw Foundation for its generous support in this regard."

Thomas Flügge, Managing Director of cdw Stiftung gGmbH, commented, "Renewable energies already cover around 48 percent of gross electricity consumption in Northern Hesse. This makes us one of the showcase regions in Germany. Unfortunately, however, the expansion has stalled. We want to further exploit the regional added value of over 120 million euros annually and further democratize the power supply. The PV cooperation between the University of Kassel as a central player in our competence region and us is a positive example for the further regional expansion of renewable energies."

Pilot university for "intracting"

The university expects cost savings in the low six-figure range from the self-produced electricity. The university in North Hesse will use the money saved to build further PV systems and implement energy efficiency projects. The project is thus part of a larger so-called "intracting" project, in which the proceeds from energy-saving measures are used to finance new energy-saving measures. The University of Kassel is the German pilot university here.

Up to now, there have only been small-scale solar installations at the University of Kassel, for example on the Frankenhausen domain, the university's teaching and experimental estate.

The cdw Stiftung gGmbH stands for regional commitment and global responsibility. In northern Hesse, it develops measures that advance the region economically, socially and culturally. In developing countries, it works with local people to develop rural regions, particularly through electrification and the spread of renewable energy supply systems. The Kassel-based foundation was established in 2011 by the founders of SMA Solar Technology AG, Dr.-Ing. E.h. Günther Cramer, Peter Drews and Reiner Wettlaufer.

Contact:

Thomas Flügge
cdw Stiftung gGmbh
Managing Director
Tel.: +49 561 76644620
info[at]cdw-stiftung[dot]de

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Communications, Press and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 561 804-1961
E-mail: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de