DAS Energy attaches solar modules to wind turbine

10/28/2020 | Print view

It took specialist technicians to climb up to a height of 40 metres and attach the modules. - © Energie Burgenland — © Energie Burgenland

It took specialist technicians to climb up to a height of 40 metres and attach the modules.

Lightweight modules from DAS Energy were attached to the tower of a wind turbine operated by Energie Burgenland. They are intended to further increase the efficiency of the wind turbine by producing electricity when the sun is shining and there is no wind.

DAS Energy and Energie Burgenland have realised a hybrid generator of a special kind. The module manufacturer from Wiener Neustadt has had 30 of its flexible lightweight panels fitted to the tower of a wind turbine in the Weiden am See wind farm. "With the additionally produced green electricity from the photovoltaic system, the efficiency of the wind turbine is further increased and its ecological footprint reduced," says Alois Ecker, Director of the Board of Energie Burgenland, describing the advantage of this solution.

Modules are bonded on

The Skyworks rope climbers had to climb up to an airy height of 40 metres to attach the modules to the tower. They used a special adhesive from Innotec for this purpose and were thus able to do without having to drill drills and bolts. The manufacturer gives a ten-year warranty on the bond if the modules are installed correctly. While the modules are only two millimetres thick and very light, it takes some skill to glue them at such a height.

The panels face southeast and southwest. This allows the maximum amount of sunlight to be used throughout the day. Since the modules are mounted almost vertically, they can also make good use of the lower winter sun. "This pilot project gives us the opportunity to show the potential of our photovoltaic cells," emphasises Christian Dries, Managing Director of DAS Energy. "Photovoltaics is generally one of the most environmentally friendly technologies, but requires a lot of space. Therefore, our goal is to make as much surface area as possible usable in order to supply the electricity of the future".

Further projects planned

For the module manufacturer, the first plant in Burgenland is a first project in Austria. "We can fit more wind towers in Austria at any time, although we can't easily glue them in winter due to the low temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius," explains Benjamin Limberk, sales manager of DAS Energy. Further projects in Germany and Spain have been secured or have already been implemented. (mfo)