The Altzella Monastery Park is the first of the 19 facilities in Saxony's palace association to generate its own sustainable electricity using photovoltaics. According to the Schlösserverbund, the additional conversion of the heat supply will make the site less dependent on fossil fuels from the next heating period. A total of around 1.9 million euros has been invested in this project in line with the preservation order, also to save energy.
The solar system on the roof of the gallery has 156 modules with a total output of 69.4 kilowatt peak (kWp), which already feeds the Klosterpark grid. An electric air-to-water heat pump with a gas condensing boiler replaces the previous heating with oil and liquid gas. According to the information provided, the changeover will save around 25 tons of CO2 per year and reduce electricity consumption from the public grid by around 40 percent.
"This is an important milestone," said Christian Striefler, Managing Director of Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und Gärten Sachsen GmbH (SBG). In view of the enormous rise in energy costs, a rethink and alternative energy sources are needed in order to remain economically viable. Altzella is therefore a pioneer in the conversion, with other locations to follow. The next photovoltaic system is already under construction - for the Dresden Great Garden.
