Solar thermal energy for logistics properties

When people think of solar energy, they often associate it with solar power. But it’s not just green electricity that can be generated using the power of the sun. Solar collectors also make a major contribution to a positive climate balance when it comes to heating and hot water – solar thermal energy is the buzzword here. Tubular collectors are used for this purpose, inside which there are pipes containing a special solar fluid that converts solar energy into thermal energy. Over 90 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate the solar glass and reach the heat-conducting metal sheets underneath; this heats up the carrier medium. This heated solar fluid is then fed through pipes to a heat exchanger, which can then heat water for heating or for regular consumption. After the “heat transfer”, the solar fluid is pumped back into the collector so that the cycle starts all over again. These heat collectors, known as flat-plate collectors, make up almost 90 percent of the collectors installed in Germany.

Even if a solar thermal system in conjunction with a logistics property cannot replace conventional heating systems, it still provides useful support by producing hot water, which has a noticeable impact on the eco-balance. There are more and more examples of this in practice, such as the C3 in Germany’s largest freight center, the GVZ in Bremen. DHL’s logistics center in Düsseldorf and Zalando’s in Erfurt also have solar thermal systems that enable the companies to cover at least 30 percent of their heating requirements themselves.

But it’s not just the logistics properties of corporations and near major cities where things are moving in this respect. A huge logistics center has also been built in Heinsberg, not far from the Dutch border. The highlight: an AI controls the heat pumps, which feed in energy from two other renewable sources in addition to solar thermal energy. Using weather and usage data, an artificial intelligence calculates the optimum settings to make the air conditioning as environmentally friendly and cost-efficient as possible.

However, solar thermal energy is not yet a matter of course in new logistics properties, but researchers are certain that a lot will happen here in the next few years. Rising energy costs, especially for heating and cooling, make a rethink necessary. And when investing in logistics properties, which should still be attractive and profitable in the next ten years, the sustainability factor is therefore playing an increasingly important role.

Author: Boris Kretzinger