Spanning an area of nearly 6,000m², the "green gas station of the future" displays an ample arrangement of measures that enable environmentally-friendly, ecological operations. The centerpiece of the entire station is the solar roofing that stretches over the forecourt, the automatic car wash, the self-service car wash, and the vacuum cleaner stations.
The project incorporated the latest product line of glass-glass panels at SUNOVATION in the design. The panels were custom manufactured for the project and integrated into the roofing structure. Nearly 245 Sunovation panels were installed over a surface area of 630m², generating a total power of approx. 65kWp. The transparent design of the solar panels creates an open space that is flooded by light, yet sheltered, to place the design element of photovoltaics into center stage. Patrons and visitors to the gas station can experience this intelligent integration of renewable energy and climate protection in the world of gas stations.
It was the passion for innovation and the environment that drove Fred Pfennings, project initiator, contractor, and operator of a major gas station chain, to back this novel architectural plan for a gas station and, in the process, call attention to environmental-friendliness in the fossil fuels market. "We were able to take this future-minded project and add our project-specific products to fulfill the customer's desire for photovoltaic panels in an exclusive, structurally-integrated solution with stylish highlights," explains Heribert Ley, Managing Director at SUNOVATION GmbH. "We were impressed by the customer's holistic approach. His aim was to bring a green revolution to the gas station market in an exemplary fashion and implement the first environmentally-friendly gas station in Germany," adds Ley.
In addition to the stylish design elements, a subsidiary of SUNOVATION, Main Solarstrom GmbH, built a photovoltaic system using standard solar panels on the roof of the gas station convenience store. The entire water demand for the gas station and car wash systems is covered by an environmentally-friendly rainwater and service water treatment system. A solar thermal system covers the heating needs and, in peak times, supplemental heating is provided by biomass heating. Nearly all lights at the gas station use energy-efficient LED technology. The energy consumption levels for lighting has been reduced by nearly 70 percent compared to conventional lamps, which transforms into savings of approximately 50,000kWh of electricity and 30 metric tons of CO2 each year.
