The project of the investor Coelba is the first solar power system on a soccer stadium in Latin America.
Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
In August 2011, Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brasil S.A., a joint venture of the German photovoltaics specialist Gehrlicher Solar AG and the Brazilian environmental technology group Ecoluz Participações S.A., was awarded an international tender by the Brazilian utility Coelba. The contract includes planning and construction of the first photovoltaic system on a soccer stadium in Latin America.
Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brazil will install a solar power system with power of 403 kWp on the roof of Pituaçu Stadium in Salvador da Bahia, the third largest city in Brazil. The project involves the use of two module technologies: On the one hand, flexible, very light-weight thin-film modules made by United Solar Ovonic (Uni-Solar) with total power of 238 kWp are installed on the canopy covering the grand stands. In addition, monocrystalline modules made by Yingli Solar capable of producing total power of 165 kWp are mounted onto the locker room and some parking lot roofs.
Construction will start in September 2011; the system’s grid connection is scheduled for December 2011. Guillermo Barea Herranz, Chairman of the board of directors of Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brasil: “We are very pleased to have convinced Coelba with our concept.” Ricardo da Silva David, Director of Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brasil, adds: “This contract is very important to us, in particular against the backdrop of plans for outfitting all twelve 2014 Soccer World Cup venues with solar power systems.”
Financing for the system is supported by power producer Coelba and the government of the State of Bahia, the owner of Pituaçu Stadium. A portion of the green electricity generated is intended to be used for operating the stadium in the future and thereby reducing the running energy costs. Tender procedures for the twelve venues of the 2014 Soccer World Cup are still in progress.
About Gehrlicher Solar AG
Gehrlicher Solar AG is an internationally operating photovoltaic company from Germany with subsidiaries and joint ventures in Brazil, France, Great Britain, India, Italy, Spain, South Africa and the USA. With around 440 employees world wide and an annual turnover of around 343 million Euros (2010) Gehrlicher Solar is one of the largest independent photovoltaic project developers and system integrators. The company which was founded in 1994 develops, plans, builds, finances, and operates solar power plants for ground mounting and for roofs – from private houses to multi-megawatt systems. In addition, it distributes solar modules and inverters as well as components from its own GehrTec product range. Gehrlicher Solar also plans, sets up and manages profit-oriented photovoltaic funds and private placements for private and institutional investors. For further information, please visit www.gehrlicher.com.
About Ecoluz Participações S.A.
Ecoluz is a group of companies based in Salvador da Bahia which has been active on the Brazilian energy market since 1987, with its main emphasis on energy savings. Its most important customers include Brazil’s largest corporations as well as the branches of numerous foreign concerns operating in Brazil. Based on its long-term experience in the area of energy efficiency, the group of companies is now expanding its business activities into the field of alternative energy production. Further information from www.ecoluz.com.br.