Science City Hamburg-BahrenfeldFirst Photovoltaic System at the University of Hamburg in Operation

21 August 2024, by Newsroom editorial office

Photo: Hamburger Energiewerke

Inaugurating the new system (from left to right): Michael Prinz, managing director of Hamburger Energiewerke; environment senator Jens Kerstan; science senator Katharina Fegebank; head of administration at the University of Hamburg Dr. Martin Hecht; managing director of Sprinkenhof GmbH Jan Zunke

Photo: Hamburger Energiewerke

A large photovoltaic system on the roof of the University of Hamburg’s Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN) is now generating solar energy in Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld—effective immediately.

Photo: Hamburger Energiewerke

The solar installation on CHyN’s roof is an important contribution on the part of the University of Hamburg, Sprinkenhof GmbH (building’s owner), and HEnW KommunalEnergie GmbH to Hamburg’s climate protection goals.

A large photovoltaic system on the roof of the University of Hamburg’s Center for Hybrid Nanostructures is now generating solar energy in Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld—effective immediately. With about 160 kWp over a surface of over 750 square meters, it is currently one of the largest PV systems installed on a Hamburg rooftop by the energy provider HEnW KommunalEnergie.

The Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHYN) opened its doors in July 2017, adding to the structural research portfolio in Bahrenfeld. CHyN is internationally unique: taking an interdisciplinary approach, scientists in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine research nanostructures. Nanoparticles range in size from a few atoms to 100 nanomters. A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. The scientists at CHyN specialize in fusing nanoelectronic and biological materials, leading to hybrid (mixed) nanostructures with enormous potential for new applications in medicine and biology. The field of nanophysics is integral to the University’s core research area Matter and the Universe at the University of Hamburg.

Expanding the PV system to municipal buildings and properties is a central building block in Hamburg’s energy transformation. The solar installation on CHyN’s roof is an important contribution on the part of the University of Hamburg, Sprinkenhof GmbH (building’s owner), and HEnW KommunalEnergie GmbH (subsidiary of Hamburg’s energy provider) to Hamburg’s climate protection goals. The PV system atop the research building, with performance power of 157.6 kWp, generates about 140,000 kWh of clean energy per year, thereby saving Hamburg roughly 45,000 kg in CO2 emissions. The system can provide about 55 households per annum (with average consumption of 2,500 kWh per annum for a 2-person household).

Dr. Martin Hecht, head of administration at the University of Hamburg: “The research building Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN) is a scientific anchor at the University of Hamburg on the research campus in Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld. The building establishes the conditions for research networking between physics, biology, chemistry, and medicine in the nanofield. The University of Hamburg is a sustainable university, which is why it is only right that CHyN’s rooftop be used for the photovoltaic system. We take the topic of climate neutral development seriously and would like to work together with our municipal partners in the future to install even more extensive photovoltaic systems on buildings’ rooftops and to use the sustainably generated energy.”

Science senator Katharina Fegebank added: “The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is vital on the path towards towards climate neutrality. Photovoltaic systems are among the most important sources of the future. Expanding photovoltaic construction is therefore very important in reaching our climate protection goals and ensuring affordable energy provision. With the new PV system on the roof of the nanoresearch center, the Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHYN) in Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld, the University of Hamburg is making a valuable contribution to successful energy transformation in Hamburg. I thank everyone involved for great cooperation!”

Jens Kerstan, senator for the environment, climate, energy, and agriculture: “We have a reliable partner for developing PV in Hamburg’s energy provider. The goal of making energy provision in Hamburg nearly climate neutral by 2045 requires a colorful array of measures; expanding photovoltaic systems is more important than ever. This is why we in Hamburg are rolling up our sleeves for public buildings and we have already installed PV systems on very different municipal roofs, including schools and swimming pools. I am very happy that we have now added our first university building.”

Jan Zunke, managing director of Sprinkenhof GmbH: “PV systems are an important building block in our future energy provision. It is precisely large-scale projects that always involve individual, complex issues requiring thoughtful planning and expertise. Alongside our partners, we are installing systems with over 1,000 kWp this and next year. The PV system on top of ChyN is an important milestone: it is the first that we are operating together with HEnW KommunalEnergie for the University of Hamburg—and it contributes to CO2 reduction in the city.”

Michael Prinz, managing director of Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH: “HEnW KommunalEnergie has already successfully installed PV systems on municipal roofs, for the police and the landmarked Altona Museum on behalf of our partner Sprinkenhof. The photovoltaic system atop the Center for Hybrid Nanostructures is now one of the largest systems built on a Hamburg rooftop by our subsidiary. And further PV construction will increase significantly in the near future; we are planning 4 mWp for this year alone. We are delighted to begin operating a PV system on a University of Hamburg rooftop for the first time.”

Background

Sprinkenhof GmbH, a public owner of the building, commissioned HEnW KommunalEnergie to building the PV system on the rooftop of the Center for Hybrid Nanostructures. HEnW KommunalEnergie leases the roof and installed and operates the PV system. The solar energy it generates is fed into Hamburg’s energy network.

HEnW KommunalEnergie is a 100-percent subsidiary of Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH. It was founded in 2024 with the goal of developing, realizing, and operating climate-friendly energy solutions for the City of Hamburg, efficiently and under a single umbrella. The company concentrates on municipal buildings, public institutions, foundations, and municipal facilities and companies. Its portfolio includes the extensive construction of photovoltaic systems for the ecological provision of energy in municipal buildings and holistic heating solutions for municipal properties. By doing so, HEnW KommunalEnergie GmbH makes an important contribution to the City’s climate protection goals.

HEnW KommunalEnergie GmbH rigorously promotes PV construction on municipal bildings and properties. Currently, the company operates 35 systems amounting to 1.9 mWp. Another 31 systems (3.2 mWp) are under construction or starting operations. In this year alone, systems amounting to a total of roughly 4 mWp have been commissioned and for 2025 the company is planning systems amounting to 5 mWp.