Zapp relies on solar energy: A big step towards sustainability
A large-scale ground-mounted PV system is being built in Ergste
The largest and most remarkable PV system with a size of 10.1 MWp is currently being built on an open space in Schwerte. This corresponds to around 17,000 solar modules on an area the size of about ten soccer pitches. As this plant is being built on the property of a neighboring farmer adjacent to the plant in Ergste, the electricity produced there can be fed directly into our plant - in contrast to pure feed-in plants. This enables efficient use of the energy generated and strengthens cooperation with the local community.
In addition to the ground-mounted system, a rooftop system with a further 1.5 MWp was also built by March 2025.
Once completed, the ground-mounted system and the rooftop system in Ergste will together be able to offset around 33% of the annual amount of electricity currently purchased. In addition, around 3 GWh will be fed into the public grid, which can also be used and fed into an energy storage system in a further expansion stage - a project that will directly follow on from the PV projects.
Large rooftop system planned on the new building in Unna
In Unna, a roof area will also be equipped with a PV system of 1.5 MWp, which will be used to cover part of the annual electricity requirements at the Unna site. Commissioning is planned for the second half of 2025.
In addition to a PV system, the first energy storage system is also up and running in China
At our site in Taicang, a roof area was also equipped with a PV system of 0.26 MWp, which is expected to cover an annual electricity demand of 0.25 GWh. The work was completed by the beginning of 2025. An energy storage system was also integrated into the overall concept for the first time at a Zapp Group site. In future, this storage system will ensure that peak loads are reduced and that the site, including the PV system with a calculated self-sufficiency of almost 80%, will hardly have to purchase any additional electricity.
Planning has also begun in the USA
A project at the Dartmouth site was successfully launched at the end of 2024. This comprised both rooftop and ground-mounted systems with a total capacity of 4.8 MWp. A rooftop and ground-mounted system with a total capacity of 1.8 MWp was also planned in Summerville.
If all PV systems are implemented, electricity self-sufficiency of 30 % can be achieved - storage solutions will increase this further
The acquisition and commissioning of the PV systems represents a significant step towards sustainability and energy independence for Zapp. With the planned investments and the resulting savings, Zapp will not only reduce its energy costs, but also make an important contribution to environmental protection.
The annual CO2 savings from the new PV systems are considerable and will make a significant contribution to reducing our ecological footprint. These projects are an essential part of our long-term strategy to increase energy efficiency and reduce our dependence on external energy sources.
By using renewable energy and reducing our CO2 emissions, we are making an important contribution to global climate protection and preserving our environment for future generations. Another important component of the new energy infrastructure in the future will be energy storage in particular. The use of energy storage systems will make it possible to store surplus solar energy and use it when needed. This will further increase energy efficiency and improve grid stability. Self-sufficiency will automatically increase as a result, peak loads can be reduced and Zapp will be able to achieve its sustainability goals even more comprehensively.