Solar energy
"Photovoltaics is one of the key technologies of the energy transition in Europe. Saxony is set to become the centre of the European solar renaissance. [...]" said Saxony's Energy and Climate Protection Minister Wolfram Günther.
> Complete media release from the Free State of Saxony
Chemnitz is leading the way in the expansion of solar energy and was named Solar Capital 2022 by WirtschaftsWoche magazine. According to data from the Federal Network Agency, Chemnitz produces more solar power in relation to its population than any other place in Germany. According to the data, Chemnitz generates 0.293 megawatts (MW) per 1,000 inhabitants. In addition, an installed solar capacity of 71.112 MW is achieved.
Chemnitz is leading the way in the expansion of solar energy and was named Solar Capital 2022 by WirtschaftsWoche magazine. According to data from the Federal Network Agency, Chemnitz produces more solar power in relation to its population than any other place in Germany. According to the data, Chemnitz generates 0.293 megawatts (MW) per 1,000 inhabitants. In addition, an installed solar capacity of 71.112 MW is achieved.
Press article on the solar capital
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Solar cadastre Saxony
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The graph shows the solar heat generated in Chemnitz from 2000 to 2015. Due to a lack of aerial photographs, it was not possible to determine the increase after 2015 on an annual basis. For this reason, the trend derived from previous years was used for an extrapolation up to 2019.
According to this, almost 2,000 solar thermal systems with a collector area of approx. 37,000m2 can be assumed. This means that almost 17 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable heat can be generated each year. However, the roof area potential in the city of Chemnitz alone would allow up to 670 GWh per year if all suitable roofs were utilised for heating support.
Brühl energy neighbourhood concept - integration of solar thermal energy
On the Georgbrücke site in Chemnitz, there is a large-scale solar thermal plant from eins covering an area of 3,200square metres. This supplies the buildings in the neighbouring Brühl district with so-called LowEx district heating, i.e. the connected buildings are reached at a working temperature of 80 degrees, which is significantly below the temperature of conventional district heating at 120 degrees.
The heating water in the collector field is heated up to 80 degrees by solar radiation. Solar energy that is not immediately required is stored and utilised when the sun is not shining. If the solar radiation is not sufficient - for example when it is cloudy - energy from the return flow of the central district heating network (approx. 65 to 70 degrees) is used to heat the heating water.