A Swiss data centre has partly met its rapidly rising energy needs by converting old broadcast television equipment.
CKW, which supplies integrated energy and building technology solutions, is behind the innovative work-around. The company confirmed it had successfully transformed unused satellite TV dishes into solar installations for Swiss telecoms provider Leuk TDC.
Developed in collaboration with global smart energy technology company, SolarEdge. The satellite dishes were already on site and first constructed in 1972, and will now form the core of a new solar plant on the premises, which will help supply the growing data centre.
Each dish can generate 110,000 kWh via 307 individual solar panels, while a rooftop array has also been introduced on the main computing and data centre. This can deliver an additional 555,000 kWh of electricity annually. Additional power required comes from hydro infrastructure.
The work was particularly complex due to the landscape, orientation and inclination. Traditional string solar inverters reduce overall performance of a solar array to match the weakest panel. This means one shaded section can significantly cut the overall yield. With a DC-optimised inverter, SolarEdge mitigates the impact of module mismatch, ensuring all panels deliver their maximum capacity.
‘Having design flexibility with a solar installation is a huge benefit for installers. In complex cases such as these with uneven surfaces, without the use of power optimizers we simply would not have been able to achieve anywhere close to the level of energy being produced today,’ said Manuel Jossi, Deputy Head of Solar Technology for Central Switzerland at CKW. ‘I recommend that others planning similar solar installations allocate sufficient time for planning and collaborate with trusted personnel to overcome any technical challenges.’
‘The need for the satellite dishes were becoming obsolete, so we always knew we wanted to make use of them in some way or another,’ added John Harris, CEO at Leuk TDC. ‘The design of the dishes, which allows them to be aligned both horizontally and vertically, proved ideal for a solar panel installation. By following the sun’s path throughout the day, these dishes optimize solar radiation absorption. Having installed them we get considerably more hours of electricity than conventional string system, and Power Optimizers enhance electricity production further.’
Image: SolarEdge
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