SolarWorld AG gives Pope Benedict XVI a solar system as a gift for Epiphany
The Fourth Gift of the Three Kings: „A Solar Cell“/ Solar power annually avoids 315 tons of CO2
Source: Corporate News from SolarWorld AG /Jan 4, 2008
http://www.solarworld-usa.com/The-Fourth-Gift-of-the.1598.0.html
SolarWorld AG is making a gift in the form of a solar power system to Pope Benedict XVI. This was announced by Frank Asbeck, Chairman and CEO of SolarWorld AG, in Bonn. ‘If the Three Wise Men from the East came to Bethlehem today they would in all probability bring a solar cell in addition to gold, frankincense and myrrh. It is the symbol for the preservation of creation and for the energy supply of the future.’ That is how Frank Asbeck explains this gift on the occasion of the forthcoming Epiphany Day. In Southern countries this day is marked by the giving of gifts to commemorate the Three Holy Kings.
‘With our gift we are paying tribute to the German pope. We support the commitment of the Catholic Church to a responsible use of the resources of creation,’ says Asbeck in his explanation. Last summer SolarWorld AG had gathered from the media that the Vatican was planning to install a solar power plant on the roof of the papal audience hall. The SolarWorld CEO got in touch with the Governor of the Vatican to offer the solar system as a gift. ‘For us this was also an obvious thing to do because Pope Benedict had lived in our Bad Godesberg Rhine Quarter during his time in Bonn. We therefore feel very closely attached to him’, Asbeck goes on to explain. The gift was formally accepted by the Vatican on behalf of the Pope just recently.
SolarWorld was able to convince the Vatican with its overall concept for the solar power plant. It takes into consideration not only the energy technology aspects but also the highly sophisticated integration of the photovoltaic system into the papal audience building. The roughly 2,000 SolarWorld modules will already be installed on the roof of the Aula Paolo VI audience hall in the summer. They will provide the very first solar power ever generated in the Vatican to the tune of some 315,500 kWh annually. This will help avoid about 315 tons of CO2. The SolarWorld engineers will replace the existing pre-cast concrete ribs on the south side of the domed roof by special modules from the company’s own production. The solar modules will adapt in an optimum way to the fan shape widening from north to south of the architecturally very challenging building. It is especially the wave structure and the associated aesthetic appeal of the roof in the shade of St. Peter’s in Rome that will be ,retained in this way.
The inverters for the plant will be made available by the German manufacturer SMA. In the implementation of the project in the Vatican SolarWorld AG will be supported by its Italian distribution partner of many years’ standing – Tecnospot Srl. The start of the construction work to begin soon, the progress of the work and the hand-over of the completed building in 2008 will be documented on film on the spot. Some first photographs as well as a simulation are available on our Internet page under www.solarworld.de/pressarea .
About SolarWorld AG:
The SolarWorld Group (ISIN: DE0005108401) is among the top trio of the solar power industry worldwide. The group is dedicated exclusively to the core business of solar energy, combining all stages of the solar value chain, from the raw material silicon to turn-key solar power plants. The company operates production facilities in Germany, Sweden and the USA. In California the largest production site in the USA for solar modules and in Oregon the largest production site in the USA for solar wafers and cells are being created. In Freiberg in Saxony the group operates one of the world’s most advanced integrated solar production facilities. Among the currently most important sales markets are Germany, the USA and in the rest of Europe especially Spain. Sales offices in Germany, Spain, California, South Africa and Singapore service the international solar markets. In addition to on-grid solar power products the group increasingly distributes rural solar power solutions internationally that can make an important contribution to the sustainable economic development of rural regions.
After the IPO at the end of 1999, the company developed within a few years into one of the largest fully integrated solar technology groups. At the end of the third quarter of 2007 some 1,969 people were working for the group. At the stock exchange SolarWorld AG is listed among others in the technology index TecDAX, in the Öko-DAX, in the Dow Jones STOXX 600, in the international MSCI Index as well as in the sustainability indices DAXglobal Alternative Energy and NAI. Over and above this SolarWorld AG is getting involved at the social policy level in order to push ahead the principle of sustainability and to sharpen public awareness of resource and climate protection. Moreover, SolarWorld is involved at the sociopolitical level in order to further the sustainability notion and raise awareness for climate and resources protection.