Šumperk site expands photovoltaic system

The Šumperk site in the Czech Republic has expanded its photovoltaic system. A total of almost 5,400 panels are now installed over an area of around 15,000 square meters, generating 1.9 gigawatt hours of solar power annually. The plant's roof-mounted solar installation is one of the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic, and enables operation with minimal maintenance and a high level of security.

The plant has been gradually expanded to its present size. The solar power generated is used for production and for the electric vehicle chargers located on the premises.

The Šumperk team has more than ten years of experience in operating photovoltaic systems. “When we installed the first system 11 years ago, the main motivation was to save costs on the operation of our data center and at the same time ensure that our IT is energy neutral,” explains Aleš Knapp, IT Manager at the site and Project Manager for the installation of the photovoltaic system. “This has been achieved and, together with other projects for greater energy efficiency, we were able to save significant financial resources.”

The team responsible for the installation of the photovoltaic system, from left: Pavel Večerek (responsible for subsidies) Aleš Knapp (design and implementation of the photovoltaic system) and Energy Manager Bohumil Pochop.

The fifth and final phase of the expansion was implemented in 2023, when more than 4,900 panels and 25 kilometers of cable were installed in just four months, with a grant of more than 540,000 euros. The panels now cover most of the site's roof area. Each module is a separate micro-source and in case of failure does not affect the operation of the power plant.

Annual savings of 2,600 tons of CO₂

“With our photovoltaic system, we are making a significant contribution to reducing our carbon footprint and saving more than 2,600 tons of carbon dioxide annually, which would require about 200 hectares of forest to absorb,” Knapp continued. “At the same time, we are reducing our energy dependency on public utility grids.”

Energy Manager Bohumil Pochop emphasizes: “A photovoltaic system not only protects the environment but is also a great investment that will save the company costs in the long term and makes us more competitive. Solar panels have a lifespan of up to 40 years. We are currently preparing a solution to integrate the system into the building management and monitoring system.”

The site is also working in other areas to make its production as environmentally friendly as possible. Among other things, waste heat is used to heat water using heat pumps, and cold air is used to cool data centers.