SOLARWATT and Dresden public transport operator: Solar roof for tram railyard with 1,000 photovoltaic modules

Regional proximity and quality of the modules are decisive factors
DVB started planning the project in December of 2017. One of the core requirements was, that only glass-glass modules should be used for the photovoltaic system. The contract to install the photovoltaic system was awarded to the company Gexx Aerosol from Wildau near Berlin, which has successfully been working with glass-glass modules from SOLARWATT for several years. "Our two companies stand for reliability and quality. And DVB also benefits from the regional proximity. The solar modules could be delivered within the city, directly from the production line to the construction site. Such short transports make the solar system even more eco-friendly," says Jochen Drepper, Head of Sales & Business Development at Gexx Aerosol.
Improving the eco-electricity quota
With more than 166 trams and 140 buses, DVB serves the local transport network of the Saxon state capital. The company counts more than 163 million passengers a year. Almost one hundred percent of the electricity generated by the new system is consumed by the company itself. In combination with the existing thermal power station, the new solar installation will provide sufficient electricity to cover DVB's own needs in Dresden Trachenberge. This includes all of the railyard buildings, including the workshop and the DVB administration building. "With our vehicles the people of Dresden and their guests are per se climate-friendly on the road. By installing the solar system, we can now also sustainably supply the Trachenberge railyard with green electricity," says Falk Lösch, spokesman for Dresden's public transport services.