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Ramstein is taking steps to help the Air Force meet its goal to increase facility renewable energy 25 percent by 2025.
The KMC currently supports renewable energy initiatives through German regulations, which mandate that utility contract suppliers purchase and sell a portion of their energy from renewable sources.
In addition, Ramstein is pleased to announce that construction of the first on-base renewable energy production projects will begin in October, which conveniently coincides with Energy Awareness Month.
The projects consist of a solar thermal system on the roof of dormitory Bldg. 2418 and a photovoltaic system on the roof of storage Bldg. 2128. Although these two systems appear similar once constructed, they are different technologies.
The flat panel solar thermal system selected, with a collection area of 1,500 square feet, will concentrate sunlight for the heating of approximately 1,189 gallons of hot water per day. This hot water will be for the dorm residents’ showering, hand washing and general supply.
By this measure, 189,700 mbtu of heat produced from fossil fuel sources will be replaced annually. The photo above is a simplified schematic depicting the roof solar collector. It shows how the panels connect inside the building to heat exchangers and controls providing energy to heat the water in the facility’s hot water storage tank. The tank then retains the water until users have a need.
Photovoltaic systems directly convert the sun’s energy into electricity. The system on Ramstein will feed directly into the base customer network.
Each year, approximately 51,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity will be generated by the system through a collection area of 5,800 square feet.
This electricity will no longer be obtained through the provider network and saves not only costs, but also primary energy.
The photo below shows a system similar to the solar thermal setup, except that the cells convert the solar energy directly into electricity, which is metered and then sent directly into the base power grid to be used by all facilities on base.
The implementation of these two projects avoids emissions of approximately 33,700 kilograms of harmful greenhouse gasses per year. The projects are expected to come on line in December.
These measures not only save money but also contribute to the protection of the environment and are a step towards the increased use of renewable energy by the Air Force.
(Courtesy of 86th Civil Engineer Squadron)
