Photovoltaic (PV) distributor BayWa r.e. Solar Trade is expanding its Tübingen headquarters with two new buildings. Baden-Württemberg's member of the state parliament, Daniel Lede Abal, Tübingen’s mayor Boris Palmer, and TV presenter Claudia Kleinert were there for the opening ceremony. Joining them were Günter Haug, Frank Jessel and Alexander Schütt of BayWa r.e.
These new buildings provide office, logistics, and warehousing space at the Tübingen site. Around 100 new office workstations are now powering the company's strong growth. The expansion, fuelled by €20 millions of investment, exemplifies the super-sustainable Plus Energy construction standard.
Climate-friendly buildings
Created primarily from glass and wood, 2,500m2 of state-of-the-art office buildings now sit alongside 11,000m2 of warehouse and logistics space.
On the roof and façade of the warehouse, solar panels were installed with a capacity of 1.3 MWp. Generating 1.3 million kWh per year, this is the largest PV installation in Tübingen. Almost twice as much electricity is produced on the new buildings than is consumed.
The rooftop PV system supplies electricity for electric forklift trucks, and wall boxes for charging employee’s electric cars and e-bikes. It also powers the building’s day-to-day energy needs, heating, and air conditioning through heating and cooling ceilings. The concept is supported by six industrial heat pumps and a modern solar storage system with a capacity of 1 MWh.
Comments on the expansion
Claudia Kleinert, TV presenter and climate expert, comments: "The new building shows that sustainable engagement is possible in every area, especially in real estate construction. Only in this way can we reduce our emissions and actively fight climate change. Tübingen is an ideal example of what future construction projects of this kind can look like throughout Germany."
"The success of the energy transition is reflected in the rapid growth of BayWa r.e. Solar Trade in Tübingen," says Frank Jessel, Global Director Solar Trade at BayWa r.e. "Our colleagues have done a great job in recent years and are the reason why the site is thriving and expanding. However, we stay true to our sustainability philosophy and make sure that the increased warehouse and office capacity does not come at the expense of the environment."
Boris Palmer, Mayor of Tübingen, on the new buildings: "The inauguration of BayWa r.e.'s new building is in line with Tübingen's goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. The sustainable construction of the offices and warehouses benefits both energy efficiency and climate protection and thus serves as a model for future properties. This is in large part due to their modern PV roof systems, which clearly emphasize Tübingen's commitment to the fight against climate change."
Strategic realignment
In March this year, BayWa r.e. announced the sale of its Solar Trade business for the purpose of a strategic realignment. For Solar Trade, the sale will help realise the huge growth opportunities for the company in EMEA, APAC and AMER. It also presents the opportunity to increase annual sales of solar modules and inverters to more than 10 gigawatts.
Around 300 new jobs in the region since 2020
As a fast-growing employer in Tübingen, BayWa r.e. Solar Trade is always looking for motivated employees. As the PV industry continues to grow, new jobs are constantly being created. BayWa r.e. Solar Trade offers exciting opportunities for renewable energy specialists, or people looking to join from other sectors.
