The bigwigs at Audi sure do love green energy. After initially installing 11,600 square meters of solar panels at their two German plants in 2009, the car manufacturer will install another 7,500 square meters over the coming months. It is anticipated that the extra solar energy will make the production of the company’s E-tron cars even greener. Audi has said that the electricity produced will be utilized not only to power the plant’s production facilities, but also to charge the E-tron car batteries.
The additional 7,500 square meters of solar panels are to be installed on the roof of the company’s plant’s roof in Ingolstadt, Germany, and the extended array will create a peak output of 500 kW, allowing the entire Ingolstadt plant to provide approximately 460 MWh each year. Overall, Audi will create 1,500 MWh each year, including the solar power generated from Audi’s second plant in Neckarsulm.
“This concept shows that Audi is tackling the topic of electromobility systematically,” said Plant Manager Peter Kössler. The photovoltaic installation uses thin-layer modules that Audi says satisfies the most stringent environmental policies, efficiency requirements and standards for flexibility. “We aim to set the standards in every area,” added Kössler.
+ Audi
via Green Optimistic
