The Atrium Hotel in Osterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany, belongs to the upper class of country hotels. The clientele is dignified and usually travels by car. That in itself is not a problem. The hotel has a large car park.
Protection from rain and too much sun
Of these, 41 parking spaces have now been supplemented with a solar roof. "We kept getting requests from automobile clubs and organisers of vintage car rallies. But they needed covered parking spaces to protect their valuable vehicles from weather events and strong sunlight," explains Benjamin Bachar, Managing Director of Hotel Osterfeld, to which the Atrium also belongs, with regard to the necessary roofing.
Offer for classic cars and electric vehicles
He could not satisfy these wishes any more than he could satisfy those of the increasing number of summer guests from Scandinavia. For they often arrive with EVs. At last count, up to six electric cars were competing for just three charging points in the hotel's car park. That's why Bachar decided to master two challenges at once with one solution.
He commissioned the Munich-based company Sopago to build a solar carport that would cover the car park and at the same time provide electricity for the electric cars. Finally, the overall package that Sopago ultimately implemented also included doubling the charging infrastructure. There is also the option of building more charge points.
Covering 60 per cent of the electricity demand
When no charging current is needed, Bachar uses the electricity from the solar system for self-supply in the hotel. In this way, he can cover 60 per cent of the electricity demand.
Also interesting: First construction phase of the solar car park roofing at Disneyland Paris is finished
Sopago built the entire solar carport system with its own system. This is a modular, complete solution and can therefore be planned and installed quickly. "Security of supply and price stability with regard to the energy demand make the construction project very interesting from an economic point of view", says Harald Baumeister, Managing Director of Sopago.
Different clearance heights possible
The basic structure is a robust and inexpensive wood-steel construction, which can also be used to span large parking areas in different clearance heights like a carport. A photovoltaic system is then installed on the entire carport area. Sopago offers the system as a purchase or rental model. The latter is particularly interesting for customers who are afraid of the investment costs.
Pioneer of the solar energy transition in the region
The plant in Osterfeld is now completed and the grid connection will be made soon. But customers are already gratefully accepting the roofing. With its solar carport, the Atrium Hotel Amadeus in Saxony-Anhalt has become a pioneer in the field of electricity generation through solar energy. This is because wind turbines have been the most common in the region until now. "That is why we are proud that we can differentiate ourselves in the competition through this project," says Bachar. "This example will set a precedent," he is sure. "There are many large companies here that will probably follow suit very soon." (su/mfo)
