Company Profiles
S.O.L.I.D.
Styrian companies raise their international profile with innovative projects like the solar Olympic village 2008 in China, the Renewable Energy House in Brussels or Eden project in Cornwall. Expertise, technical equipment and state-of-the-art technology: these are the facets that distinguish the leadership position of Styrian enterprises in the field of renewable energy. However, in order to compete on an international market, a further component is required: references; something that Styrian enterprises abound in. The latest achievement in the trophy cabinet of domestic companies is the Best Renewable Plant/Company of the Year award won by Graz-based company S.O.L.I.D. (www.solid.at).
S.O.L.I.D. was awarded for the solar panels installed at the aquatics center in Qingdao, the venue for all water sports events in the summer Olympics 2008. S.O.L.I.D. constructed two systems for the aquatics centre; one used to prepare warm water and provide heating for the swimming pool in the Olympic village, another one for the heating and cooling of the administration centre. The collectors cover a total area if 2,000 m2 and provide an output of 500 kW, making the installation one of the largest solar cooling projects in Asia. The greatest challenge surrounding the project was the architectural implementation, as the roof of the Chinese aquatics centre is concave, and thus needed to be reproduced exactly in order for the solar collectors to be able to be installed on the roof.
The installation will be maintained remotely from Graz. S.O.L.I.D. was also involved in the recently opened Energy House in Brussels; a 120-yearold house was adapted to a unique energy model by a partnership if 30 European companies, with the heating and cooling needs to the Energy House fully covered by renewable energy sources. The Energy House was opened in March 2006 and has since been home to all major European renewable energy industry, trade and research associations. S.O.L.I.D. contributed a solar thermal system to the project, which provides the energy used to cool the building.
KWB
KWB (power and heat from biomass, www.kwb.at) is the second Styrian company whose expertise has shaped the Energy House. A leading innovator in the field of biomass, KWB has long-term international experience and offices in 9 different European countries. KWB delivered the heating system used by the Renewable Energy House, which supports the solar installation during the summer months and is solely responsible for heating the entire building during winter. The KWB Multifire, overall winner in a test of pellet boilers carried out by the Stiftung Warentest, is the device responsible for this task. The 80 kW pellet boiler heats a total area of 1,800 m2 as well as a 5,000 liter capacity hot water tank. Both storerooms are filled twice a year with 15 tonnes of pellets. Every two to three months, the ash boxes are emptied and the contents are recycled naturally; ash is after all a perfect fertilizer due to its high mineral content. In this manner, up to 30% of energy costs can be reduced, as compared to oil and gas heating systems and an even higher proportion of the CO2 emissions is reduced.
