POGGI AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Poggi S.p.A is always looking for continuous improvement and innovative solutions in order to offer to its customers an advanced and adequate service. For this reason, since 2011 Poggi S.p.A boasts total energy self-sufficiency with zero emissions thanks to photovoltaic systems installed on the roofs of the various operating units. In fact, these panels partly replace the roof covering, a metal cover that was placed after the asbestos, which previously formed the roof structure, has been removed and properly disposed of. In the operating units at Corsalone, there are approximately 1.750 panels and about 800 in the unit in Strada in Casentino, for a production of approximately 500.00 kW / h per year.
Through this solution, the company is committed to becoming increasingly socially responsible by relying on an eco-sustainable system of clean energy production, significantly reducing the production of carbon dioxide, as well as the harvesting of wood from forests for heating and the reduction of burnt oil. In this way, it is possible to favour the growth and development of the company’s competitiveness and, in addition, the net energy metering is carried out. It is important to remember that the energy coming from the use of solar panels allows the correct functioning and work of all the machinery that are located inside each unit, whether it is machinery for handling loads and products, or that are specific for materials cutting, welding and finishing that will then form the final product.
In addition, all the lighting inside the operating units has been changed, favouring LED lamps, which are powered directly by the energy coming from the solar panels, thus constituting a further aid to the environment.
An important news that will be introduced during 2022 at Corsalone is the construction of a small hydroelectric plant bordering with the production plant to make up for the lack of photovoltaic production during the winter.
PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS: WHAT ARE THEY?
A photovoltaic panel is a module that uses the energy produced by the sun to create electricity. It is a rectangular panel made up of several assembled modules. Inside each module, there are photovoltaic cells capable of transforming the sunlight into energy. The panel is made of crystalline silicon. Photovoltaic panels are generally installed on the roofs of buildings where they are more easily exposed to the sunlight all day long. There is also the possibility of creating a photovoltaic park on the ground in places where there is ample space exposed to the sunlight.
HOW A PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL WORKS
The main feature of a photovoltaic panel lies in its ability to transform solar energy into electricity. This is possible thanks to the so-called photovoltaic effect, i.e. the possibility of converting solar radiation into electricity to be exploited for both domestic and professional use.
TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS
On the market it is currently possible to identify three main types of photovoltaic panels, all made of silicon.
The first one is the crystalline photovoltaic panel in which monocrystalline silicon modules are applied. The efficiency is 15-20%.
The second one is made of polycrystalline silicon modules and in this case, the efficiency is lower, equal to about 13%.
Finally, the third one is the thin film photovoltaic panel, made with amorphous silicon instead. In this case, the yield is 6%.
The size of the photovoltaic panel to be installed depends on the amount of energy to be produced. The difference between the three variants derives mostly from the efficiency and this consists in the relationship between production and occupied area.
PRICES AND DURATION
The cost of a photovoltaic panel depends on the type of system a person wants to build. To determine the final price it is important to find both the type of module to be installed and its dimensions. Depending on the energy that has to be produced, a more or less large and consequently more or less expensive plant will be required. Since the photovoltaic system is modular, the replacement or maintenance of a panel’s part is immediate and simple.
ENERGY YIELD
The manufacturer, according to calculations made under standard conditions, presents the energy yield of a photovoltaic panel. Actually, the energy yield is not so easy to measure. The installation latitude, the inclination and orientation of the panels themselves, the operating temperature, the system cleaning and the irradiation contribute to achieve a better performance.
PRICES AND COSTS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS FOR A PLANT CONSTRUCTION
In recent years, the cost of the electricity is increasing, so much that bills are becoming increasingly high both for private citizens and for owners of small and medium-sized enterprises who have to bear costs related to their production units and offices maintenance. What is the main solution to this problem? Experts are convinced that the answer can be found in photovoltaic systems. What are the advantages deriving from the use of these systems?
Among the main ones, we find:
- a reduction in costs on the bill which, depending on the user's habits, can reach 80 percent of its cost, thanks to the system's self-consumption which leads to a reduction in electricity bills;
- Tax deductions for a period of 10 years
- The guarantee of profitability and productivity of the plant for a period of time that can reach 30 years;
- Lastly, the possibility of amortising costs even in regions with less solar radiation.
It is therefore possible to arrive at a single consideration: the photovoltaic system does not represent a cost, but an investment with a great economic return.