Siemens Installs 1 MW Photovoltaic Plant In Italy

Siemens Energy, a unit of Siemens AG, has built a ground-based photovoltaic plant in Italy under contract to Ferrarelle S.p.A, the Italian bottled water company. The turnkey solar power plant, with a peak capacity of 1 MW, was constructed 50 kilometers north of Naples in the Campania region. The solar power plant was connected to the grid at the end of December 2008 and can now supply eco-friendly power to about 350 households.

As EPC contractor, Siemens was responsible for project management, including engineering and plant construction. The order is worth approximately EUR 5 million.

“In addition to fast expansion of its wind power business Siemens is now also expanding its solar business commitment,” said René Umlauft, CEO of the Renewable Energy Division of the Siemens Energy Sector. “Here, we are focusing on the development and implementation of large solar plants for industrial and utility customers.”

In addition to 4554 multicrystalline solar panels and three Siemens Sinvertsolar 340 kVA inverters, the Siemens scope of supply for the Ferrarelle S.p.A solar power plant also included a Geafol 20 kV transformer, civil works, support structures, the entire cabling and the grid connection. The photovoltaic inverters convert the direct current produced by the solar modules into alternating current.

The solar panels are attached to a prefabricated lightweight aluminum structure and set under an angle of 30 degrees, facing south. The overall plant covers approximately 16,000 m2, which is equivalent to the area of more than three soccer fields. By virtue of its straightforward design the aluminum structure was installed in less than a month. A time span of less than 6 months elapsed from awarding of contract, erection of the entire photovoltaic plant, including installation of the inverters, power system connection, up to project completion.

For six years now Siemens has been focusing on the planning and implementation of turnkey supply of solar projects. In the next six months Siemens will erect solar projects with a combined capacity of 8 MWp. Photovoltaic plants are part of the Siemens environmental portfolio, which accounted for company revenues amounting to EUR19 billion in 2008, which is equivalent to around a quarter of Siemens total revenue.