Since August, the first parts of the large-scale photovoltaic system at Tyrolit's Schwaz site have been in operation.

David Hawel

21.09.2022

Schwaz/ Tyrol, 02.09.2022: Since August, the first parts of the large-scale photovoltaic system at Tyrolit’s Schwaz site have been in operation. The long-established Tyrolean company is planning a total of three expansion stages at the main plant and a further one at the secondary site in Vomp and will be able to cover up to a quarter of its own electricity requirements with solar energy when the plant is fully installed. In line with the “Tyrol 2050 energy-autonomous” strategy, the technology company will thereby save an additional 723 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Tyrolit as a pioneer

Following the introduction of zero-emission e-trucks for internal plant transport, the expansion of solar energy is the next step in Tyrolit’s group-wide CSR strategy: “With our large photovoltaic system, we are taking responsibility and living up to our pioneering role as a leading Tyrolean technology company. Tyrolit is taking visible steps here to contribute to the energy transition and is thus setting a good example,” explains CEO Thomas Friess. A total of four expansion stages of the photovoltaic system are planned: The first part has already gone into operation and delivers 1,198.00 kilowatt peak (kWp) in Schwaz, another plant with 1,163.20 kWp will follow at the same location in September. In the third expansion phase, an additional 168 kWp will be added in Schwaz and another plant with 1,130.80 kWp at the company’s location in Vomp. (Note: Per kWp one can expect an electricity yield of about 900 to 1,100 kilowatt-hours).

 

 

3,660 kWp from its own photovoltaic system

Once fully completed, the Tyrolit PV plant will be one of the largest in Tyrol, with a capacity of around 3,660.00 kWp: “We are proud to be able to build and operate a plant of this size. The electricity generated by this plant is roughly equivalent to the demand of 1,500 households and the CO2 emissions of around 500 medium-sized cars – each per year”, Friess explains with pride. When the photovoltaic system is in full operation, Tyrolit can cover about a quarter of its own electricity needs and contributes significantly to the common goal of Tyrol becoming energy self-sufficient by 2050.

 

 

Focus on energy since 2006

With the photovoltaic system now being implemented, Tyrolit is continuing along the path it has been following since 2006. For over 15 years, the Schwaz-based company has been adapting the technologies it uses in an energy-efficient manner. In addition to switching from thermal afterburning to waste gas purification with regenerative processes and optimising furnace technology, Tyrolit also relies on heat recovery and optimising building technology in relation to the in-house heating system. These measures have so far saved the company a total of 22,037.3 megawatt hours of electricity and an additional 5,369 tonnes of CO2 per year.