AVL is a world leading company headquartered in Graz. AVL is employing more than 7,000 engineers in the Graz facility alone, and is using multiple engine test stands. The company is very environmental conscious and contacted SOLID as a new parking deck offered the opportunity to install a solar system.

AVL and SOLID jointly evaluated the energy demand and SOLID installed in 2017 based on an ESCo agreement a solar plant with 1,584 m² collector area and a storage of 70 m³ to reduce AVLs needs from natural gas and district heating but as well to built a roof above the top floor of the parking deck.

AVL was satisfied with the first stage and still had thermal demands to cover.

Together AVL and SOLID identified two more roofs that could be equipped with solar collectors. The heat demand in summer was already covered, however AVL has significant cooling demand. So the second and third phase of the project was designed to integrate an absorption chiller with 650 kW and additional 1,518 m² solar collectors. With this system, AVL can cover additional cooling needs in summer and support process and space heating in the remaining year.

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