The new train station in Vienna will have a 1,200 square meter solar roof to collect electricity.
The high tech roof was set to be part of the "energy efficient art work" that the finished station will eventually be, according to Austrian railway (ÖBB) boss Christian Kern.
The electricity provided is enough to provide the needs of 30 medium sized family homes, but will end up providing energy for the lighting of the train station.
The ÖBB did not get a grant for the project as the energy generated will not end up in the national grid but will be used at site.
But the news of the green development was soured after the ÖBB boss refused to rule out that the solar panels would be bought in China instead of in Austria.
It was also revealed that the ÖBB had saved on the project after a report they commissioned had originally said that 3,200 square meters could have been covered - but costing a million Euros.
Kern however defended the smaller project saying: "We don't want the entire building covered with solar cells."
The station will also use geothermal energy to provide a quarter of the heating costs.
Source:http://austriantimes.at/news/Business/2012-07-22/43058/Train_station_solar_panel_row
No comments:
Post a Comment