Objective
The aim of the project is to demonstrate 26 architecturally integrated PV and natural lighting on the Ford manufacturing plant located in Bridgend (South Wales), 97 kWp of power generated for the electrical system within the manufacturing plant.
This will be the first example of a large scale PV system to be integrated into a manufacturing environment in Europe, and the largest PV system in the UK to date. It will stimulate continued interest in this technology and provide high experience in developing techniques for future integration into buildings.
The Ford Motor Company have a corporate manufacturing environmental strategy to improve social acceptability of their manufacturing plants and this project will act as a catalyst for future projects in their endeavours to design a Factory for the Future.
In addition to generating 105,000 kWhrs of emission free electricity per year, saving at least 3150 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the anticipated lifetime, the roof lights will also provide natural lighting to the work areas below, improving the benefits of the overall system.
Large area laminates will be used incorporating the highest efficiency solar cells currently available and purpose-designed plug-in DC connections to minimise the installation tome. A separate inverter will be used for each string of laminates so the DC connections are kept to a minimum and the majority of cabling is AC. Wiring will thus be familiar to electricians who have not had previous experience with PV systems.
The roof lights will provide natural day-lighting to the assembly area below, improving the working environment, enhancing productivity and reducing the electrical load of the plant.
Within this project it is also proposed to investigate the effects on system performance of connecting multiple inverters into the 3-phase electrical supply used within the manufacturing plant.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Reduced emissions from displaced electricity generators from PV and natural light and heating.
Fields of science
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivity
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineering
- natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysis
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
50725 Köln
Germany