Kyocera Solar Modules Power EV and E-Bike Charging Station in Germany
Solar power and electric transportation make a natural combination. Back in 2011, Kyocera demonstrated how well the two technologies could work together with a solar-powered charging project in southern Germany.
Kyocera supplied 446 photovoltaic modules for two solar carports in Burghausen, Germany. BLU“e” Solar Group GmbH installed and operated the system. One of the carports also incorporated a charging station designed for both electric cars and electric bicycles. (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft)
Solar Energy Directly Supports Electric Transportation
The first solar carport used 248 Kyocera KD215GH-2PU solar modules. Together, they provided 53.32 kWp of generating capacity.
A second carport incorporated another 198 modules and delivered 42.57 kWp. Rather than waste unused electricity, the project sent excess solar power back into the electrical grid. (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft)
That setup offered a glimpse of what transportation infrastructure could become. Parking spaces no longer had to serve only one purpose. Instead, the structures could provide shade, generate renewable electricity and support EV charging at the same location.
Free Charging for EVs and E-Bikes
Drivers and cyclists received another benefit. Charging at the Burghausen station was initially offered free of charge.
Solar electricity generated above the parking area helped provide energy for the electric vehicles below it. As a result, the project connected renewable electricity generation directly with cleaner transportation rather than treating the two technologies as separate systems. (Solarserver)
At the time, electric cars and electric bicycles were gaining attention across Germany. More vehicles also created greater demand for convenient charging infrastructure. Solar carports offered one potential way to meet that demand without dedicating additional land solely to energy production.
Kyocera’s Solar Technology
Each KD215GH-2PU module carried a nominal output of 215 watts under standard test conditions. The modules also had a reported efficiency of 14.4% at the time. (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft)
Those numbers may look modest compared with today’s higher-efficiency solar panels. However, the significance of the project went beyond individual module efficiency.
Kyocera and BLU“e” Solar Group showed that an ordinary parking area could become part of a distributed energy system.
Sunlight produced electricity above the vehicles. EVs and bicycles could charge below. Meanwhile, surplus generation could support the surrounding electrical grid.
The Solar Carport Idea Was Already Growing
Burghausen wasn’t Kyocera’s first attempt to rethink parking lots.
Years earlier, the company developed its Solar Grove at its North American headquarters in San Diego. That project transformed a parking area into a 235-kilowatt solar generating system while simultaneously providing shade for parked vehicles. Kyocera reported estimated annual production of roughly 421,000 kWh from the original installation. (KYOCERA North America)
The company also developed its Solar Cycle Station in Japan. That system used photovoltaic electricity to charge power-assisted bicycles and could draw power from the conventional grid when solar production was insufficient.
These projects shared the same basic idea: energy infrastructure did not have to remain isolated from everyday transportation.
Solar Charging Was Ahead of Its Time
Looking back, the Burghausen installation feels remarkably familiar.
Solar-covered parking lots are now appearing at businesses, shopping centers, workplaces and EV charging locations around the world. Pair those structures with batteries and modern charging equipment, and they can become small distributed energy hubs.
That concept is especially important as electric vehicles place additional demand on the grid. Solar generation during daylight hours can help supply some of that electricity locally. Battery storage can expand the usefulness of the solar system even further.
The technology has advanced significantly since 2011. Yet the basic strategy remains strong.
Generate clean electricity where vehicles already park. Use that power to help charge electric transportation. Then send surplus electricity somewhere useful instead of letting valuable space perform only one job.
Kyocera’s German solar charging project represented an early version of that increasingly important clean-energy model.
Sources
1. Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft — Kyocera Solar Modules for Two Carports in Bavaria
2. pv magazine — Kyocera Solar Modules Provide Fuel for Electric Cars and Bikes in Germany
3. Kyocera — Solar Grove Project in San Diego
