Largest German Solar Power Storage Park

Solar Cells, Batteries, and Power Inverters in a 1-MW Plant

Which technologies will make the “Energiewende” succeed? How do we protect our lead in innovation in international competition? One possible answer can be provided by Germany’s largest solar power storage park. Solar cells, batteries, and inverters are operated together with the purpose of storing solar electricity and making it available at any time. On the occasion of the Baden-Württemberg Sustainability Days, the KIT commissioned the 1-MW facility together with its SolarWatt and Kostal Solar Electric partners.

“Innovation is a core activity of the KIT,” explains Professor Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the KIT. “Together with our partners, we are developing in this solar power storage park forward-looking solutions and systems configurations sustainable on a global market.” 

E-scooter instead of car

Foldable, smart and good way to get from A to B

The Trikke resembles a scooter with a triangular base, which is driven comfortably while standing. "The Trikke is an electric tri-cycle", says Pieter Dekker from "Trikke Europe": "Foldable, smart and the best way to get from A to B."

A ride through town was never so easy: the Trikke has a maximum speed of 25km/h and with a range of 40km the whole city is within reach. Inner-city short-range electric Trikke can be an alternative to the car and other solutions: just 20 kg in weight, foldable for the office, car and the tram, up to 40 km range, in four hours "refueled" at each outlet, no traffic jam on roads and confident when driving even with the lowest speed. 

Innovative technologies for hybrid vehicles

Ministry of Finance and Economics is providing 500,000 euros

The Ministry of Finance and Economics is providing 500,000 euros in funding for the research project "FastStorageBW4Motion" of the Fraunhofer Institute of Manufacturing Engineering and Automation. The aim of the project is to research and develop storage batteries for hybrid vehicles. "The future-oriented energy storage technology provides tremendous opportunities for the economy in Baden-Württemberg. Hybrid vehicles, in particular, have a huge market potential," explained Minister of Finance and Economics Nils Schmid.

Energy-optimized Buildings

Keeping a Cool Head at the Workplace

Working in a comfortable air-conditioned room at high temperatures: Architects of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) built the new climate chamber "LOBSTER" to study what this may be like. The study focused on comfort and user behavior at office workplaces in energy-optimized buildings. KIT students were also involved in setting up the test chamber.

A first study covered the effect of ceiling fans under summer conditions. The result: The fan enhances comfort only, if it has a cooling effect and users feel that their control power over the fan is effective. "LOBSTER" means “Laboratory of Occupant Behavior, Satisfaction, Thermal Comfort, and Environmental Research”. The climate chamber was set up under the direction of Dr. Marcel Schweiker of the Building Science Division (fbta) of KIT’s Department of Architecture and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWi) under the Energy-optimized Building (EnOB) program.