BayWa r.e. Solar Systems puts photovoltaics to work for electromobility
BayWa r.e. Solar Systems is diversifying by marketing recharging stations and car park shading systems. Products that combine recharging and solar production.
Against a backdrop of accelerating energy transition and rapid growth in electromobility, BayWa r.e. Solar Systems, a distributor of photovoltaic equipment operating in 28 countries, is expanding its range of photovoltaic equipment supplies to include recharging solutions for electric vehicles. The range offered stands out for its ability to integrate photovoltaic production to maximise self-consumption. ‘As sales of electric vehicles continue to grow and climate concerns intensify, the convergence between photovoltaics and electric vehicle charging seems obvious. The regulatory context, in particular the LOM and APER laws, is also increasing the pressure on car park managers,’ explains Prasanna Jayaratnam, Head of Development at BayWa r.e. Solar Systems France. Charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is a good way of getting more value out of domestic photovoltaic production. A full self-consumption charge costs between €3 and €6. While the cost of electricity supply for private individuals has risen by more than 80% in 10 years, the cost of photovoltaic panels has been divided by 10 and that of batteries by 5 over the same period. Self-consumed solar energy costs around 10 euro cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), half as much as energy purchased from the grid.
Products for all uses
To meet the needs of its customers, BayWa r.e. offers a wide variety of charging stations, from Schneider, Alpitronic, Alfen and Autel Energy. The range is designed to meet all the needs of private individuals, businesses and local authorities. They meet the requirements of private and public car parks and road infrastructure, while offering advanced features for intelligent charge management and solar energy integration. BayWa r.e. Solar Systems also distributes small DC charging points for industrial and tertiary applications, with charging capacities of up to 50 kW. ‘We are currently the only distributor active in this segment of industrial and commercial charging points. But the needs are huge, because electric commercial vehicles and trucks are set to become the majority by 2035. According to Enedis, the electrification of heavy goods vehicles should represent +14 TWh’, Prasanna Jayaratnam points out.
Charging points ‘made in France
Charging stations installed in public or private car parks provide additional income while building customer and user loyalty. Combined with photovoltaic shade systems, they also help to comply with new regulations requiring car parks of more than 500 m2 to be solarised. BayWa r.e. has teamed up with the French manufacturer of ManOrga shading systems to help car park managers comply with these obligations under the APER ‘Climate & Resilience’ law, while maximising the economic and energy benefits of solar installations. The shading systems meet European Eurocodes standards and are ETN-certified, guaranteeing their compliance with current regulations. They offer the option of integrating charging points for electric vehicles and inverter systems directly into the shading systems. ‘The shade structure offers a turnkey solution for fleet managers, enabling them to comply with the ApER and LOM laws with a single product. Over and above the regulatory requirements, this represents a real economic opportunity. According to Enedis, there will be 18 million electric vehicles in France by 2035,’ concludes Prasanna Jayaratnam.
