Rooftop solar system put into use at Volkswagen Dalian plant

A 24,000-square-meter solar energy generating system with an installed capacity of 4.08 megawatts peak (MWp) was put into use at Volkswagen FAW Engine (Dalian) Co Ltd in Northeast China's Liaoning province.

The solar panels make full use of roofs covering the engine production plant, the integrated test and engineering center, and the factory parking lot.

According to Wang Jiao, who is in charge of the factory's public relations, this project is an example of "self-sufficiency in electric power generation, and adding surplus electricity to the State Grid". The generated electricity is directly connected to the production line electric cabinet and used immediately to provide daily power needed for production and office work.

After being combined with the state power system, the average annual electricity generation is about 5 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to 10 to 15 percent of the electricity consumption of conventional energy power generation, said Wang.

The solar energy generating systems will ensure operational savings throughout the lifetime of the system. In addition, it will make a significant contribution to the local environment, she said.

Wang said the Volkswagen FAW Engine Dalian plant has adopted a series of measures for environmental protection. These include tubular daylight devices, a wastewater vacuum distillation system, rainwater harvesting, deionized water recycling, and heat recovery from a chilled water system. They are applied to building structure, lighting system, public energy equipment, resource recycling and so on.