Photovoltaics finances dairy farm's asbestos roof renovation

5th October 2022

LONGi

Paige West

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In just four weeks, Berlin-based photovoltaic specialists Kintlein & Ose completed an 8500m² roof renovation on an industrial-scale German dairy farm, along with the installation of a 1.5MW photovoltaic system using LONGi solar modules.

During the work the farmer, located in the Brandenburg village of Briesen, carried on with business as usual, managing and milking his large herd of dairy cows.

Roof renovation free of charge as part of the lease agreement

As is often the case with older agricultural buildings, the Briesen facility’s asbestos roofing could not support solar modules and had to be replaced, to ensure the long-term operation of the PV system. The previous roof also had numerous chimneys and vents that the solar array had to be designed around.

Kintlein & Ose, who undertook the project in cooperation with its partner K&O Dach- und Bauservice, offset the cost of the new roof against the lease payments. The contractual agreement effectively delivered the farm an entire asbestos removal and renovation using trapezoidal steel sheets free of charge. The engineers also solved the problem of the vents and chimneys, which have now been replaced with modern heating ventilation.

Project engineer Paul Murcha of Kintlein & Ose explained: "We've preferred LONGi solar modules for many years for their quality, reliability, and aesthetics. But here they were also the key to maximising our use of space. The optimal frame size of the LR4-60HIH modules helped us achieve the excellent area-to-power ratio of this installation." The quality of the LONGi modules has been certified by the international testing agency RETC, where they ranked as a ‘top performer’.

Lease model an attractive solution for farmers

Leasing to an external operator offers a practical alternative for farmers interested in PV. They get a rooftop clean power plant but avoid taking on an operational role in addition to their agricultural business. In Briesen, the farmer's contract relieves him from any solar operating and maintenance obligations. The clean energy generated by the farm's rooftop solar system is fed directly into the local utility's grid. The system will generate around 1,421,000kWh per year, reducing CO2 emissions by around 850 tonnes.