As part of its energy strategy 2050, the Swiss Federal Council has defined ambitious targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions which will make the use of renewable energies necessary for the heating of buildings in Switzerland. As a member of the 2SOL Alliance, Meyer Burger is breaking new ground to achieve the goal of a simple and sustainable energy system solution for existing Swiss building stock. Meyer Burger’s hybrid collector technology guarantees a significant increase in energy efficiency in combination with other important building technology components. When used in combination, these innovations can lead to an emission-free energy and heating supply for buildings.
Meyer Burger Technology Ltd (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) is one of the seven founding members of the 2SOL Alliance which was launched on February 14, 2013. Today, November 4, 2013, the 2SOL Alliance held its first public media event. Its goal is the reliable and economic reduction of the CO2 emissions in buildings. A pilot installation has already been successfully implemented and is running smoothly. Two other installations are currently being constructed with additional ones already in the planning phase. One of the most important main components of the overall system is Meyer Burger’s hybrid collector.
Competent energy transition
With its industry leading technologies, Meyer Burger covers all important production processes along the photovoltaic value chain. Within the 2SOL system, Meyer Burger’s extensive experience and core competencies make a decisive contribution towards the energy transition. Dr. Patrick Hofer-Noser, Head of Renewable Energy Systems at Meyer Burger, emphasises the benefit of the overall concept: “The 2SOL system distinguishes itself by providing renewable energy both for individual use and for storage. The system is suitable for newly constructed buildings but also particularly for refurbished buildings for which the financial and material effort to renovate could be quite high.”
One collector produces heat and electricity
The hybrid collector from Meyer Burger serves as the heat and electricity source for the 2SOL system. The collector primarily provides low temperature solar heat for heat-pumps (temperatures between 25°C and 35°C) and for the thermal regeneration of the geothermal probe. By storing summer heat for the winter period, a cooling of the geothermal probe can be prevented. The power which is generated by the hybrid collector can operate household appliances and heat pumps or refuel electric cars. Surpluses are supplied to the public grid or stored in a local storage battery. Through the unique combination of solar thermal energy and photovoltaics, the solar panels within the hybrid collector remain sufficiently cooled and the annual energy yield can be increased by up to 10%.
