Greenbuddies Tips - March 2024

25 MWp Greenbuddies project in the Netherlands completed for TPSolar

Our Greenbuddies installation teams are wrapping up an exciting photovoltaic project in Beuningen, Netherlands, in partnership with our esteemed client, TPSolar. Spread across two sites, spaning 10 ha each, this venture is poised to deliver a substantial total capacity of 25 MWp.

TPSolar is a dynamic and forward-thinking company that specializes in the development, installation, and management of photovoltaic solar energy projects in the Netherlands and this project will supply electrical power to more than 7000 households.

In total, the two sites comprise more than 42,000 PV modules, 78 inverters, and involved the ramming of more than 16,500 piles. Our teams have been responsible for the complete mechanical and electrical (DC and AC) installation of the mounting system, modules, inverters, and cabling.

This project is the largest we have completed so far in 2024. Several similar installations are currently in the preparation phase and are expected to begin shortly in Germany. This marks a confirmation that Germany and the Netherlands are pivotal markets with a strong and ongoing Greenbuddies presence ever since the company's founding.

Legislative Support for Carports in the EU

Many EU countries are increasingly converting large areas of car parks into solar carports. In France, and in some German federal states, equipping car parks with solar panels has become a legal obligation, significantly driving up the demand for such projects. A similar boom in solar carports can soon be expected in the Czech Republic.

The demand for electric cars is growing worldwide. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), their share of the global car market will reach almost 20 percent by the end of this year. With the number of electric cars on the road increasing, it's essential to ensure that the charging infrastructure keeps pace.

What about carports in France and Germany?

European Union countries are ahead of the Czech Republic in promoting solar electricity generation in car parks. In France, a law enacted in mid-2023 mandates operators to install solar panels on car parking areas if the capacity of the car park is 80 parking spaces or more. According to the French government, the photovoltaic parking lots created could generate approximately nine to eleven gigawatts of energy, nearly as much as ten nuclear reactors.?

In neighboring Germany, the obligation to install photovoltaics in open parking lots for commercial use has been enacted in the last two years in the states of Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony, and Hesse, with the parameters of the individual regulations varying depending on the state concerned. The minimum number of parking spaces required ranges from 35 to 100.

While in Germany, this requirement applies only to new car parks, in France, the law extends to existing spaces. Interestingly, if this regulation also applied to existing parking lots in Germany, nearly a quarter of the 215 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity the German government aims to install by 2030 could come from PV in parking lots, according to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE).

In the Czech Republic, Demand for Carports Is Rising

With the growth of electric cars in the Czech Republic, where the share of electric cars is expected to reach 6.9 percent by 2030, or a total of 496,000 electric cars, according to an estimate by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the development of charging infrastructure becomes crucial. Currently, there are just over 2,300 public charging stations in the country. Solar carports may offer a viable solution.

Solar carports are increasingly in demand, not only due to the development of electromobility. In the last 12 months, Greenbuddies has seen the demand for solar carports increase by more than 100 percent.

Q&A with Greenbuddies

In this article we will introduce some of our Buddies. How do Project & Delivery Buddy Jakub Vrti?ka, Engineering Buddy ?ubomír Orosi, or HR Buddy Tereza Malá evaluate their time working at Greenbuddies?

Jakub Vrti?ka

• Tell me how you first got involved in with Greenbuddies

I became involved with Greenbuddies after coming across a job opportunity that sparked my interest in renewable energy. My initial project was managing a significant, 130 MW ground-mounted photovoltaic power plant, which involved navigating through the complexities of Dutch bureaucracy and finding creative solutions to challenges. This experience solidified my commitment to the renewable energy sector.

• What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?

I enjoy cross-country skiing and participating in amateur races. Recently, I conquered the Vasaloppet for the second time, which is a challenging 90 km race. My motto is: “I always cross the finish line.”

• As a part of the PV team, what sorts of trends do you see?

I've observed several interesting trends in solar energy:

• Transparent solar panels function like windows but also generate electricity, offering both sunlight and power for your coffee maker.
• Solar paths propose the idea of walkways doubling as solar panels, merging fitness with renewable energy.
• Energy storage batteries are becoming popular for storing energy from solar panels for use when the sun isn't shining, acting like a power bank for solar energy.
• Solar fashion introduces the concept of solar panels being incorporated into stylish clothing and accessories.

These trends, whether practical or fun, highlight the bright future of solar energy.

Tereza Malá

• What do you find most challenging about your job?

I joined Greenbuddies after parental leave, and initially, I was worried about whether I could balance work and my son in a way that I could say I was giving both the deserved attention without any guilt – that was a personal challenge for me. At the same time, I was entering a company operating in a field that was completely unknown to me at the time, so the first few months presented a significant professional challenge to get oriented in the solar industry and the energy sector as a whole.

• What was your first impression of Greenbuddies?

From the first days, I was amazed at the pace at which my colleagues managed to work every day. I was welcomed by a very friendly and approachable team, including the owners, who made it clear that we are all equal and pull together. In the time I've been here, we've nearly doubled in the number of colleagues, but this spirit still persists.

• What do you do when you aren't working??

Outside of work, you might find me somewhere with my son, enjoying good coffee, great food, visiting a gallery, or on a trip in my beloved Brno. However, I also cherish moments completely alone, on a walk in the forest, at home with a book in hand, or at my writing desk engaging in, I admit, a somewhat old-fashioned hobby, postcrossing.

?ubomír Orosi

• What do you find most challenging about your job?

The photovoltaics sector is evolving dynamically, necessitating keeping up with all the trends and, importantly, legislative regulations (laws, decrees, standards), especially in my role as a photovoltaic designer at Greenbuddies.

• What's your personal philosophy on what should be done in the Renewables/Solar industry?

I believe it's crucial to focus more on developing photovoltaic power plant installations in currently unused areas. Utilizing former landfills, which no longer serve their original purpose for waste collection, seems particularly sensible.

• What would you tell someone who is thinking about building a PV plant?

Let's do it! We can design the project, secure the necessary permits, and, crucially, construct it.

• What do you think will change in the PV world over the next five years?

I expect solar panels to be more integrated into building aesthetics, particularly into window glass. The trend towards flexible panels suggests they might also find applications in facades, thereby becoming an integral part of architectural designs.