UTH GmbH on the sunny side – Investment in a large-scale photovoltaic system for climate-friendly production
Fulda. An important step towards a climate-neutral production: UTH GmbH is counting on solar energy for the future and has now invested in a large-scale photovoltaic system at the production site in Fulda/Germany. The system has been in operation since mid-February.
“Sustainability is the main focus of our current thinking and actions. For more than 35 years we have been supplying machines and systems to the global tire, rubber and silicon industry. Our machinery has always been characterized by a high level of energy efficiency, thus making an important contribution to the conservation of natural resources like rubber” says UTH’s Managing Director Peter J. Uth. “As a result, our roll-ex® machines have long helped to enable our customers to produce in an environmentally friendly way by generating energy savings of up to 70 percent.”
This impressive new photovoltaic system, installed on the roof of the modern assembly hall at our production facility in Fulda, marks yet another milestone: 267 modules were installed on area of approximately 550 square meters, providing an output of 100 kilowatt-peak (kWp). Peter Uth explains that “In order to ensure the full potential of the system, the modules have been positioned to capture both the sun from the south and the east-west directions”. The energy created by the photovoltaic system will primarily serve to provide energy for the production plant.
With this system the company is now able to generate around 30 percent of its annual energy consumption itself, saving around 50 tons of CO2 per year. Surplus electricity i.e. generated energy that cannot currently be used by the company itself (for example, on days when operations are running at a lower level such as at weekends) is to be fed into the public power grid,” says Peter J. Uth.
A data logger for system monitoring and an energy meter control the “collected” and consumed energy. In addition to monitoring functions, analyses can also be performed with the aim to guarantee the optimal use of the system. “Of course, this does not mean that the production will only operate when the sun is shining” says Peter J. Uth with a smile.
Not only climate will profit from UTH’s step. With this far-reaching investment, the company is also making a clear commitment to the Fulda location and thus to the region. In 2017, UTH GmbH had already started to lay the tracks for more sustainability during the construction of the new assembly hall. As a result, the building was provided, among other things, with modern LED lighting technology and daylight domes installed by local craftsmen. A heat pump for hot water generation has recently been added to the environmentally and climate-friendly equipment. Local companies were also commissioned for the installation of the photovoltaic system as strengthening the regional craft sector is part of the company’s philosophy.
“As a business owner, you have a special responsibility, especially in today’s world” stresses Peter J. Uth and adds: “Continually improving the ecological footprint, keeping a close eye on possible CO2 reductions…..this is an on-going process that we will continue to actively shape in the future.”
Photovoltaic modules on a total area of 550 square meters provide 100 kilowatt-peak (kWp)
267 PV-modules generate 30 percent of the annual energy consumption – this saves about 50 tons of CO2 per year
PV-modules in south and east-west orientation guarantee optimal self-consumption use
