{"id":21388,"date":"2025-06-10T14:14:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T12:14:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/?p=21388"},"modified":"2025-09-18T11:34:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T09:34:27","slug":"move-on-europes-biggest-solar-park-witznitz-radical-cools-transformer-stations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/industries\/refrigeration-ventilation\/move-on-europes-biggest-solar-park-witznitz-radical-cools-transformer-stations_21388\/","title":{"rendered":"No heat-induced down\u00adtimes at the Witznitz Energy Park "},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A typical working day in the office often starts by pressing the on button of a computer. The screen lights up, the latest e-mails are loaded and the calendar displays what is coming up that day. In the back\u00adground, thou\u00adsands of giga\u00adbytes of data are passing unno\u00adticed through Microsoft\u2019s German data centers. Since April 2024, the power for this has been supplied from Saxony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where lignite was once extracted, 1.1 million solar modules are now producing elec\u00adtrical power at the Witznitz Energy Park south of Leipzig. Due to its previous use, the land on which the park is located could not be switched to agri\u00adcul\u00adtural use for envi\u00adron\u00admental and economic reasons. So why not use the site, which is as large as Hamburg Airport, to generate renew\u00adable energy? That was the idea of MOVE ON Energy, which installed 1.1 million solar modules, 207 trans\u00adformer stations and two dedi\u00adcated substa\u00adtions, at the same time rena\u00adturing compen\u00adsa\u00adtion areas covering 160 hectares. The power gener\u00adated is sold to oil and gas company Shell and then on to Microsoft for its data centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trans\u00adformer stations ensure the right voltage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Solar modules<\/h4>
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When sunlight falls on solar modules, they generate direct current that is then converted into alter\u00adnating current by the solar park\u2019s more than 3,500 inverters. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div><\/span><\/a>

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Trans\u00adformer stations<\/h4>
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The inverters at the Witznitz Energy Park deliver a voltage of 600 volts. A total of 207 trans\u00adformer stations increase the voltage to 30,000 volts, enabling the current to be trans\u00adported via the medium-voltage grid to the two substa\u00adtions with as little loss as possible. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div><\/span><\/a>

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Substa\u00adtions<\/h4>
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At the Witznitz Energy Park, the dedi\u00adcated 380kV substa\u00adtions and an extra-high voltage tower have been installed on the site. The substa\u00adtions take the medium-voltage current, convert it to extra-high voltage and then transfer the power to the trans\u00admis\u00adsion grid via the tower. As the substa\u00adtions are located directly in the Energy Park, the medium-voltage current is not trans\u00adported over longer distances, which reduces trans\u00adport losses.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div><\/span><\/a>

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Cables<\/h4>
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Trans\u00admis\u00adsion losses in the power grid are mainly caused by the resis\u00adtance of the elec\u00adtrical cables through which the current flows \u2013 known as ohmic resis\u00adtance. Some of the elec\u00adtrical power is converted into heat and can there\u00adfore no longer be used. Some is also lost to heat during conver\u00adsion of the voltage in the trans\u00adformer stations.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div><\/span><\/a>

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High-voltage tower<\/h4>
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A 380 kV high voltage tower is part of the extra-high voltage grid that is used to trans\u00adport elec\u00adtrical power over long distances. The cables on this tower are designed for a nominal voltage of 380,000 volts (380 kV) \u2013 in Germany, this is the highest voltage level in the trans\u00admis\u00adsion grid for the long-distance trans\u00adport of elec\u00adtrical power. The high voltage is used to reduce the current level and thus mini\u00admize trans\u00admis\u00adsion losses. Thanks to high-voltage direct current trans\u00admis\u00adsion, power losses over long distances can be reduced even further.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

(Photo | MOVE ON Energy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24\/7 oper\u00ada\u00adtion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Inside, the trans\u00adformer stations are divided into two areas. On the low-voltage side, the current is received from the inverters. At the center is the trans\u00adformer that increases the voltage of the current to 30 kV. It then passes to the medium-voltage side and on to the substa\u00adtion. The trans\u00adformer stations operate at full capacity every day, gener\u00adating heat due to conver\u00adsion losses \u2013 this is a phys\u00adical phenom\u00adenon. However, the trans\u00adformer stations also contain sensi\u00adtive compo\u00adnents such as sensors, protec\u00adtion devices, circuit breakers and mini elec\u00adtronics. They must not be allowed to get too hot as they could other\u00adwise be damaged and reli\u00adable oper\u00ada\u00adtion of the system could no longer be guar\u00adan\u00adteed. Steffen Montag, managing director MOVE ON Energy, explains: \u201cThe fuses espe\u00adcially are sensi\u00adtive to extreme temper\u00ada\u00adture fluc\u00adtu\u00ada\u00adtions \u2013 heat is more harmful than cold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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over<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

0<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

hectares<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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over<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1,1 Mio.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

solar modules installed<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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approx.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

0<\/span> MW<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

gener\u00adated output per year<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

That is why the heat gener\u00adated must be reli\u00adably dissi\u00adpated from the trans\u00adformer stations so that the sensi\u00adtive compo\u00adnents do not over\u00adheat. If this is not done, their service life could be reduced by as much as half. For this reason, MOVE ON Energy was looking for a solu\u00adtion to cool the trans\u00adformer stations \u2013 and found it in the fans from ebm-papst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compact fan solu\u00adtion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A partic\u00adular chal\u00adlenge was the limited space avail\u00adable for instal\u00adla\u00adtion because both the trans\u00adformers them\u00adselves and the medium-voltage system in the trans\u00adformer station take up a lot of space. To ensure effi\u00adcient cooling, the fans are installed in the door of the trans\u00adformer station. This enables the air flow to circu\u00adlate unhin\u00addered between the trans\u00adformer and the fan. The fans draw warm air from the inte\u00adrior and trans\u00adport it to the surrounding envi\u00adron\u00adment. As it is warmer in the summer, the fans operate at higher speed than in the winter. \u201cOf course, the noise level of 207 trans\u00adformer stations also plays a role,\u201d says Sonntag. That is why EC centrifugal fans from the RadiCal range were chosen. Thanks to their compact design, high pres\u00adsure increase and opti\u00admized air duct design, they are partic\u00adu\u00adlarly able to with\u00adstand the high back pres\u00adsures caused by the restricted space. The rounded leading edges of the impeller blades ensure opti\u00admized noise char\u00adac\u00adter\u00adis\u00adtics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We were convinced by the repu\u00adta\u00adtion of ebm-papst as a German manu\u00adfac\u00adturer, its ability to deliver and the reli\u00ada\u00adbility of its product quality.<\/p>\nSteffen Montag, Managing Director MOVE ON Energy<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Daniel Krause, a tech\u00adnical sales engi\u00adneer at ebm-papst, was respon\u00adsible for the tech\u00adnical imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion of the cooling solu\u00adtion at the Witznitz Energy Park. He explains the approach: \u201cMOVE ON Energy knows how much heat the trans\u00adformers generate when oper\u00adating at full capacity. On this basis, we calcu\u00adlated the neces\u00adsary air flow and proposed the RadiCal as a suit\u00adable solu\u00adtion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the limited instal\u00adla\u00adtion space in the trans\u00adformer stations, MOVE ON Energy decided in favour of the compact RadiCal and installed it in the door of the house.<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Photo | MOVE ON Energy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stable temper\u00ada\u00adtures ensure longer service life and reli\u00ada\u00adbility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A total of 207 fans have been installed at the Witznitz Energy Park, one fan for each trans\u00adformer station. To ensure that the temper\u00ada\u00adture can be regu\u00adlated as required, a sensor deter\u00admines the trans\u00adformer, building and ambient temper\u00ada\u00adtures and trans\u00admits these data to a temper\u00ada\u00adture control module. Based on this infor\u00adma\u00adtion, the optimal fan speed is deter\u00admined and adjusted as required. \u201cIn ebm-papst, we have found exactly the right partner to deliver the overall concept of fans, control tech\u00adnology and moni\u00adtoring,\u201d says Montag with satis\u00adfac\u00adtion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The first summers in the energy park are behind us and we are very happy with the fans.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

By main\u00adtaining a stable temper\u00ada\u00adture, the fans can double the service life of the trans\u00adformer compo\u00adnents from seven to as much as 14 years. The Energy Park has now been oper\u00adating for over a year. \u201cThe first summers are behind us and we\u2019re happy,\u201d says Montag.<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/div>

Where lignite was once mined, 1.1 million solar modules now produce elec\u00adtricity at the Witznitz Energy Park south of Leipzig. (Photo | MOVE ON Energy)<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>

In addi\u00adtion to the energy park, MOVE ON Energy devel\u00adoped 160 hectares of compen\u00adsa\u00adtion areas to protect the envi\u00adron\u00adment and nature. (Photo | MOVE ON Energy)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A typical working day in the office often starts by pressing the on button of a computer. The screen lights up, the latest e-mails are loaded and the calendar displays what is coming up that day. In the back\u00adground, thou\u00adsands of giga\u00adbytes of data are passing unno\u00adticed through Microsoft\u2019s German data centers. Since April 2024, [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":21401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fans","category-refrigeration-ventilation"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21388"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21940,"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21388\/revisions\/21940"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.ebmpapst.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}