AVL’s automotive testing technology facility

Brief

In 2017, AVL, an Austrian-based automotive consultancy company and independent research institute, started to collaborate with SOLID to address their energy requirements for process heat. Electricity for the industrial plant was already sourced 100% sustainable, but heat was supplied by natural gas and fossil-fuel based district heating, thus contributing significantly to the factory’s carbon footprint.

After evaluating AVL’s energy demands, SOLID Solar Energy Systems devised an innovative solution: A solar heat installation, covering an area of 3,463m². This solar thermal plant was complemented in 2021 by an absorption cooling machine with a capacity of 650 kWth.

Technology

The solar thermal technology used in this project are flat plate collectors, combined with a Lithium-Bromid-water absorption chiller. The solar collectors are placed on a roof situated above the top floor of AVL’s parking deck. This dual-purpose installation not only harnesses solar energy for heating and cooling, but also provides shelter, maximising the utility of available space. The solar thermal installation comes with a substantial storage facility of 70m³.

The solar thermal system not only fulfils AVL’s heating requirements but also supports process and space heating throughout the year. Moreover, during the summer months, the integrated absorption chiller caters to AVL’s cooling needs. Through this initiative, AVL significantly reduced its reliance on polluting heat sources, such as natural gas. By avoiding approximately 320 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, AVL’s solar thermal integration significantly contributes to mitigating climate change.