MAN Ferrostaal and Solitem Group introduce high efficiency solar thermal cooling systems to the Middle East
For the first time, large public buildings in the Middle East can be equipped with environmentally friendly high efficiency solar thermal cooling systems. MAN Ferrostaal, a general contractor for the construction of industrial plants, has recently taken a major share in SOLITEM group, which has successfully commercialized and applied this technology in several installations in Southern Europe.
The installations are roof-top and ground systems which turn radiation energy of the sun directly into cooling, and present a highly efficient alternative to current air conditioning systems. Compared with those, there is no conversion of fossil fuel into electricity and then into cooling necessary. Compared to existing solar cooling systems, based on photovoltaic panels, the efficiency is twice as high.
While solar thermal cooling has already been successfully serving selected clients in the retail and hotel industry overseas, MAN Ferrostaal will now use this technology on a larger scale in the Middle East.
Dr. Wolfgang Knothe, member of the executive board of MAN Ferrostaal, regards this technology as particularly interesting for this region: "The Middle East has an enormous amount of solar radiation which is not being used today. At the same time, the biggest share of electricity produced in conventional power stations goes into cooling systems for private and public buildings. Solar thermal cooling is a 100% environmentally friendly way of air conditioning which can be used independently of national grids."
It's efficency however, is not only reflected in environmental benefits but also in a short payback time. Furthermore, modular systems and a cooling equivalent of 0.5 to 20 Megawatt and more make solar thermal cooling specifically suitable for airports, large buildings and production and storage facilities.
"As a typical example, large international airports consume around 300 Megawatt for cooling only with the help of fossil fuel power stations. Realizing the cooling of such an airport with solar thermal cooling systems instead would save the environment around 150.000 tons of CO2 per year," says Dr. Ahmet Lokurlu, Managing Director and Founder of the SOLITEM group "Countries that want to react to climate change in sunny regions like this in a cost effective way have now an excellent alternative."
MAN Ferrostaal chose the Middle East as one of the first markets for solar thermal cooling not only because of the climatic conditions, but also because of MAN's large presence in the region. Mid 2006, the group's regional turnover of more than one billion Euros has led to the opening of the MAN House, MAN Ferrostaal's regional headquarter, in Dubai.
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About Solar Thermal Cooling
The solar thermal cooling technology is based on parabolic trough collectors which are made entirely of aluminum to allow a low weight, low price but high stability. The 1.8-metre wide troughs produce hot water with a temperature of 180 to 250 degrees Celsius. In a two-stage absorption chiller, the heat is turned into six degree Celsius cold water which can then be used for cooling the air. Alternatively, it can be turned into steam for industrial processes.
About SOLITEM Group
Based in Germany, SOLITEM is a young company and that has already established itself as a world leader in innovative energy and environmental engineering.
About MAN Ferrostaal AG
MAN Ferrostaal AG, Essen, with 4,300 employees and a turnover of 1.4 billion € (2006), is the industrial service provider in the MAN group. With its "Projects" and "Services" divisions, MAN Ferrostaal serves customers in more than 60 countries throughout the world. MAN Ferrostaal is a subsidiary of the MAN Aktiengesellschaft, Munich. The MAN group is one of the leading vehicle, engine and machine manufacturers in Europe, with an annual turnover of around 13 billion € . MAN is a supplier of HGVs, buses, diesel engines, turbo machines and industrial services, and employs around 50 000 staff worldwide. The MAN divisions occupy leading positions in their markets. MAN AG, Munich, is one of the leading German joint-stock companies in the German Stock Index DAX.
For further information please contact:
Tom Koopmann
General Manager, MAN Solar Millennium
Phone: +971-4-601 6161
Email: Tom.Koopman@man-middleeast.com
© Press Release 2008
