On December 2, 2009, the first solar thermal plant for warm water supply and central heating on Palestinian territory has gone into operation near Beit Jala. The solar plant has been realized by MAN Ferrostaal AG and the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – the German Energy Agency – within the framework of the “dena Solar Roofs Programme for Foreign Market Development” with support of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi).
The solar plant has a total collector surface of over 200 square metres and was a donation made by MAN Ferrostaal to a Palestinian school with an excellent regional reputation for its multi-religious pupil body and the equal opportunity education of girls and boys.
In the past, high utility costs of about 80,000 EUR per year have put a great burden on the budget of the institution, which relies on financial contributions. The utility expenses will now be decreased by the new solar plant to a large extent. About 21,000 litres of diesel fuel, which were required before, are about to be saved. This lowers CO2 emissions by 57,000 kilograms every year, roughly equal to the emissions of 24 middle-class passenger cars with an annual mileage of 15,000 kilometres each.
With the donation, MAN Ferrostaal is presenting its solar power business in a social context in the Middle East. The construction of large-scale industrial solar thermal power plants belongs to the core businesses of the company. The plant in Palestine is meant to symbolically serve as a demonstration and encourage further solar projects in the region. Aside from the immediate support for the school, the project underlines the industrial potentials for solar energy generation in the whole MENA region.
About MAN Ferrostaal AG
MAN Ferrostaal AG, Essen, is a global provider of industrial services in plant construction and engineering. As a general contractor in plant construction, the company offers project development, project management and financial planning for turnkey installations, including petrochemical plants, gas and solar power stations, oil and gas installations, biofuels and industrial plants. MAN Ferrostaal operates as an independent sales and service partner for machine and systems manufacturers in the automotive, printing and packaging machinery, piping and marine construction sectors, and employs around 4,400 people in 60 different countries. In 2008, its annual turnover amounted to 1.6 billion euros. 70% of the shares in MAN Ferrostaal AG are held by the International Petroleum Investment Company from Abu Dhabi (IPIC), while 30% are owned by MAN SE (Munich, Germany).
About the German Energy Agency (dena)
The Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – the German Energy Agency – is the German competence centre for energy efficiency and renewable energies. Its manifold objectives include the rational and thus environmentally-friendly production, conversion and use of energy and the development of sustainable energy systems with a greater emphasis on renewable energy sources. Its shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany, the KfW Bankengruppe (KfW banking group), Allianz SE, Deutsche Bank AG and DZ BANK AG. www.dena.de/en
About the dena Solar Roofs Programme for Foreign Market Development
The “dena Solar Roofs Programme for Foreign Market Development” was developed by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – the German Energy Agency. Over the past five years, this programme which is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) has supported German solar energy firms introducing services and products to international markets. The dena Solar Roofs Programme provides a framework for the planning and installation of solar thermal energy and photovoltaic power systems in promising foreign markets, often at German international schools or Goethe-Institutes. The initiative delivers training programs, public relations and marketing efforts to accompany these installations. The goal of these ‘beacon projects’ is to demonstrate the high quality of German renewable energy products and systems.
Your contact:
Hubert Kogel
MAN Ferrostaal AG
Corporate Communications
Hohenzollernstrasse 24
45128 Essen
Germany
Phone: +49 201 818 2525
Fax: +49 201 818 3525
Cell Phone: +49 171 5561830
Email: hubert.kogel@manferrostaal.com
http://www.manferrostaal.com
