Electric car owners from inside and outside the area can look forward to charging up in the shade of solar cells: The pioneering project in Avedøre Green City is almost built and will soon be ready for use. The locally owned charging stations will be inaugurated on 19 August at 3pm by the Mayor of Hvidovre.
Everything started with an initiative from a citizens’ group who wanted green mobility to become a reality in Avedøre Green City. As it stands, there are no charging stations in the area, and this has a very significant effect on citizens’ willingness to switch from fuel engines to electric cars: Why buy an electric car if you can’t charge it?
The citizens’ group applied for financial support to set up charging points for electric cars, as they do not currently have any in the area. They received funding from the Green City Grant from Hvidovre Municipality in October 2020, and together with European Green Cities and Solar Lighting Enterprise ApS, the citizens’ group came up with an exciting solution: the two charging points with four outlets in total would of course be covered by solar cells!
The locally owned Energifællesskab Avedøre A.M.B.A. has undertaken to both build and operate the facility for the citizens’ group. Tania Sheik Larsen, Vice President of Energifællesskab Avedøre A.M.B.A. and Principal of Hvidovre Gymnasium, where the two 22 kW charging stations covered by solar cells will be built, says: “We are so happy that we have the opportunity to offer teachers, students and all residents of Avedøre access to charging stations. The design is beautiful, and together with the green roofs over the bike sheds, they help underline our strong focus on sustainability and climate.”
“We have created a unique, architectural and sustainable design that covers four parking spaces at Hvidovre Gymnasium. A solar roof of 11.88 kWp is suspended on six steel legs and three douglas beams”, explains Martin Dietz. He is Managing Director of Solar Lightning Entreprise which has taken on the task of developing and building the solar cell covered charging stations in Avedøre Green City and at the same time assuming the Charge Point Operator role.
The new charging stations will provide the first locally produced energy to the Avedøre Energy Community, improving the infrastructure for electric car owners in the area and contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions. It has also received additional funding from parking tech company Easypark, which helps motorists find, manage, park and charge their electric cars. Easypark shares the vision of making cities more liveable, which goes hand in hand with both the citizens’ group and the Energy Community of Avedøre’s sustainable e-mobility visions.
The project is also part of the EU program POCITYF, which aims to help make Europe’s cities smart and sustainable. Read more about the program on: POCITYF website, Twitter & LinkedIn.