Solarport Duisburg GmbH, a joint venture between Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport) and Stadtwerke Duisburg AG, has successfully connected the first of its large-scale photovoltaic systems to the public electricity grid. The system is located on Mercatorinsel in Duisburg-Ruhrort and represents the first of two new large-scale systems that Solarport is currently implementing at Duisburg Port. This project combines the efforts of duisport and Stadtwerke Duisburg with the aim of generating energy within the port area, particularly on the roof surfaces of halls.
The initiation of this system marks a step in utilising the potential that the extensive conditions of Duisburg Port offer for solar energy generation. Markus Bangen, CEO of duisport, stated that Duisburg Port has numerous suitable areas that are to be activated in cooperation with Stadtwerke Duisburg for the climate neutrality of the region. Andreas Gutschek, board member of Stadtwerke, emphasised that the cooperation between both companies rooted in Duisburg enables green power generation, benefiting both parties and the local population.
The newly commissioned photovoltaic system is installed on the green roof of a new logistics hall in the second construction phase of Mercatorinsel. Its output is 1,582 kilowatt peak (kWp) or 1,375 kilowatts (kW). This output is equivalent to approximately 160 photovoltaic systems on single-family homes. In the first two and a half days of operation alone, over 26,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity were generated. For a full calendar year, a production of more than 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity from renewable energy is forecast, which is to be fed into the public grid.
Vanessa Hanhart, Managing Director of Solarport Duisburg GmbH, stressed that the successful commissioning and the initial generation values represent an important milestone, and further roof areas in the port will be developed for electricity generation from renewable energies. Solarport's second project, at logport I in Duisburg-Rheinhausen, is also at an advanced stage. There, another system with an output of 1,040 kWp or 875 kW is being built on an existing logistics hall. Commissioning of this system is planned for next month, with an expected annual electricity generation of around one million kilowatt-hours.
- —Photovoltaic system on Mercatorinsel: 1,582 kWp / 1,375 kW.
- —Projected annual production Mercatorinsel: over 1.3 million kilowatt-hours.
- —Second system on logport I: 1,040 kWp / 875 kW.
- —Projected annual production logport I: around 1 million kilowatt-hours.
For both projects, surrounding railings were also installed on the hall roofs. These measures serve to ensure safe working conditions during installation and facilitate later maintenance and inspection work. Andreas Burchert, also Managing Director of Solarport Duisburg GmbH, highlighted that photovoltaics on roof areas in densely populated areas like Duisburg is one of the most effective methods for generating electricity from renewable energies and expressed satisfaction with the awards received for planning the next two systems in the Federal Network Agency's tender.
