German energy supplier Enercity AG will install photovoltaic (PV) systems on the roofs of state buildings in the region of Hanover as part of a cooperation with the state of Lower Saxony.
Enercity will rent roofs with an area of 55,000 square metres (65,779 sq yd) in the first three years of the partnership, it said on Tuesday. This has the potential for generating 10 GWh of green electricity per year which corresponds to the power consumption of around 4,000 households.
The Hanover-based energy company will set up and operate the PV plants at its own expense and market the solar electricity.
State-owned buildings in the region have a total roof area of around 226,000 square metres, which is now being examined. The evaluation of the roofs should be completed within five years and the suitable areas should be used for power generation.
Should the targeted roof areas be fully utilised for power generation, this would cut carbon emissions by up to 3,600 tonnes per year, corresponding to the annual emissions of around 4,400 cars.
All roof areas will be leased to Enercity for a period of 20 years.
The state government of Lower Saxony aims to tap its full potential as a property owner in order to achieve its climate goals and the quickest and most effective way to do it is to cooperate with experienced partners, said state finance minister Reinhold Hilbers.
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