dhp Technology AG, Switzerland – unique folding
solar roof
dhp Technology AG, Switzerland – unique folding
solar roof
Electrical & Electronic (E&E)
dhp technology AG
Zizers Switzerland
dhp technology AG is a start-up founded in
2015 specialising in leading-edge power generation that is renewable and
value-adding at a local level. It develops, produces and sells the unique
folding solar roof – a world first – and sees immense potential for solar power
production in the dual use of industrial areas. dhp technology oversees the
entire process from planning to installation, commissioning and annual
maintenance; it also manages the power generation at an operational level.
Based on a sophisticated folding mechanism,
the unique folding solar roof unfolds within a minute over the large sludge
treatment basins of the Eich wastewater treatment plant in Bassersdorf.
Consisting of 1024 monocrystalline solar panels arranged in 28 rows, the 333
kWp array supplies the plant with electricity.
Roof retraction and extension is determined
by a weather forecasting algorithm in combination with a weather station that
measures the on-site wind strength, precipitation and temperature. The system
is controlled by a Siemens S7-1500. sf elektro-engineering AG in Flums, a
long-standing Siemens Solution Partner, was responsible for the control
system’s electrical engineering and programming.
SIMATIC S7-1500
TIA Portal WinCC Professional
The Eich wastewater treatment plant in Bassersdorf makes double use of its area twice - with a folding solar roof that is unique in the world.The control system from Siemens helps to make optimum use of solar energy and to cover around 21 % of the wastewater treatment plant's electricity consumption.
Thanks to SIMATIC Safety Integrated, safety
components such as emergency stop and isolator switches were easily
incorporated into the fail-safe SIMATIC control system, which greatly
facilitated installation. The WinCC-based control system is located on dhp
technology’s premises, thus allowing the roof’s designers to monitor the system
and evaluate the data remotely.
dhp technology is based in Zizers, Canton
Graubünden and currently employs 28 people. Its manufacturing activities have
been fully automated since 2019. Its folding solar roof won it the Swiss Solar
Prize in 2019 and the “Watt d’Or 2019” sponsored by the Swiss Federal Office of
Energy. dhp technology receives EU support and was awarded a two-year grant
under the EU’s Horizon 2020 Accelerator programme.