+ 25.01.2013 + The solar power Gallery enclosure at Isskogel in Gerlos produces electricity to power itself and the grid.

The Sunkid Ski Lift & Transport Equipment Company based in Imst is the leader in the passenger transport industry for ski resort conveyor belt systems, with a market share of approximately 70 percent worldwide. From the beginning, the company placed the highest importance on protecting the environment, with utmost energy efficiency in all applications.

The latest achievement is now in-place at 2000 meters above sea-level in the Austrian Alps. The Sunkid Moving Carpet boasts solar panels mounted on its Gallery enclosure, producing more electricity than it needs to operate.

This first-ever project was implemented in the Zillertal-Arena and has now been presented to the public. "The new Moving Carpet Gallery enclosure equipped with solar panels produces more green power than it actually requires. The excess electricity can then be provided to the power grid", explains Emanuel Wohlfarter.

The 180m-long Sunkid Moving Carpet consumes about 16,000 kWh of electricity per year for normal operation (from 9am to 4pm daily). The 74 solar panels installed on the Gallery enclosure provide a total output of about 18.25 kWp, corresponding to 22,000 kWh per year. kWp means peak kilowatts, and is the unit of measurement for the peak output of solar arrays. The Moving Carpet is able to power itself independently with the 22,000 kWh average output. The extra 6000 kWh of green energy can then be fed to the power grid. This corresponds to about 27 percent of the array's power output.

The Moving Carpet Gallery enclosure, developed in 2001, protects passengers from snow, rain, wind, and cold - while offering a clear view of the outside. And for the lift operators, the Gallery offers plenty of advantages - particularly allowing quick and easy startup even in the worst weather and snowfall conditions.

Info: function and advantages of solar panels

A photovoltaic array produces electricity by converting incoming light into useful current. The individual solar cells are made from silicon (from sand), and traces of other elements. Groups of solar cells are connected in a housing by metal wires to form a solar module. Multiple solar modules can then be connected together. The energy (DC power) is then converted into AC power by an inverter. The solar power obtained in this way is then typically fed into the power grid.

Solar power is considered the most eco-friendly method of power generation. It produces no noise, no emissions, is completely safe, and requires no fuel other than sunlight. Solar cells are typically produced with recycled materials, and even partly with waste materials from other industries.

Find more information about solar power and the Sunkid Moving Carpet Gallery enclosure at: sunkidworld.com

SunKid 2013