On Koelnmesse's newly opened Confex , 500 photovoltaic modules convert sunlight into green electricity. Now, Cologne's largest inner-city photovoltaic system is being added to the roof of Hall 11. With 4,800 modules, it promises an annual yield of around two million kilowatt hours (kWh). Another large-scale system is already under construction.
‘The commissioning of this large photovoltaic system is an important step on our way to a sustainable energy supply,’ says Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH. ‘And we're not finished yet! A further 2,100 solar modules have already been delivered and installed on the roof of our Hall 1.’ Cologne's Lord Mayor and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Koelnmesse GmbH, Henriette Reker, emphasises the significance beyond the company: ‘By generating its own solar power, Koelnmesse is consistently pursuing its sustainable course and at the same time sending a strong signal for the energy transition in Cologne and the region. This is a further step on our way to a climate-neutral Cologne.’
The construction of the photovoltaic systems is part of Koelnmesse's sustainability strategy, which aims to achieve climate neutrality for the company and its own events by 2030. ‘Photovoltaics play a central role in our energy mix,’ says Horst Harbusch-Geier, Head of Central Infrastructure. ‘We will significantly reduce our carbon footprint in future thanks to the electricity we produce ourselves.’ The system commissioned today on Hall 11 alone will enable an annual saving of 1,200 tonnes of CO2 compared to the average national electricity mix. With the further expansion of the photovoltaic systems on the roof of Hall 1, a total of 1,850 tonnes of CO2 will be saved per year from the end of 2024.
The solar power generated will be used directly at the Koelnmesse exhibition centre. The form in which surplus electricity from the photovoltaic systems could be utilised in the future is currently being examined with energy partner E.ON. As part of an energy partnership with E.ON and RheinEnergie, Koelnmesse is also converting the entire heat supply of its Cologne exhibition centre to climate-friendly technologies by 2028. The systems will draw their energy from sustainable sources such as air, groundwater and the sun. The innovative heat and energy concept in combination with the RheinEnergie district heating system will ensure further significant CO2 savings of 5,800 tonnes per year.
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