- Promotion10,000 euros of the total cost of 50,000 euros.
- Date of promotion: 2016 / 2017
- Subject of the promotion: Photovoltaic system with an output of 30 kilowatt peak on the TU Central Library.
- Destination: Support for educational projects for the energy transition
Solar Powers is a non-profit association that emerged from a student project of the energy seminar at the TU Berlin.
The first project of the non-profit association is a PV system on the roof of the TU Central Library in Berlin-Charlottenburg. An area of 500 square meters was covered with 107 PV modules in the fall of 2016 in cooperation with the collective company KanTe and ceremoniously opened at the beginning of April 2017. Not only the construction of the plant, but also the operation is carried out by the student initiative.
The concept convinced not only those responsible at the TU, but also NATURSTROM AG and the Grüner Strom Label e.V. (Green Electricity Label). As part of the green power certification, the independent green power provider covered one fifth of the total costs. The money came from the green electricity tariff awarded with the Grüner Strom-Label. The Green Electricity Seal of Approval makes it a requirement for energy suppliers to invest one cent per kilowatt hour in energy transition projects.
Further funding came from module sponsorships: Individuals or groups such as student councils or groups of friends were able to purchase one or more modules, give them names or immortalize themselves with their logo on the module overview plan. Crowdfunding helped to raise a further 20,000 euros.
Together with the press office of the TU Berlin, a short video was created. It shows how the PV system was installed on the roof of the library and how the funding of student projects works.
PV system after completion on TU Berlin. (Photo: Solar Powers e.V.)