Czech Largest Mall Installs Euronergy Ultra-light Solar

Westfield Chodov has been powered by its own source of emission-free energy since this autumn. The new photovoltaic power plant in this largest shopping center is unique. Its roof is covered with flexible photovoltaic panels with a high mechanical load, which weigh only 2.5 kg/m² of area.

A unique power plant

ČEZ ESCO has completed the second stage of the photovoltaic power plant project on the roof of the Westfield Chodov shopping center in south-east Prague. With a total installed capacity of 362 kW per year, it will supply approximately 350 MWh of clean electricity.

This stage complemented the first phase of the project, when last year ČEZ ESCO built 200 kW of photovoltaics in Chodov. The new photovoltaics at the Westfield Chodov shopping centre is unique in terms of the panel technology used.

Due to the roof structure, ultra-light U-IBC 420 Wp photovoltaic panels from Euronergy, glued directly to the roofing, are used, which weigh only 2.5 kg/m² of area. This panel technology has previously undergone a demanding test with tensile tests in the PV laboratory of the Czech Technical University in Prague.

Further expansion of the power plant

The rooftop photovoltaics in Chodov is completely completed and produces electricity. A total of 825 Euronergy panels are installed here, which produce 350 MWh of green electricity per year.

In addition, the plans for the Westfield Chodv shopping center now envisage further expansion of the solar power plant in the coming years by up to 800 kW, which would increase the total installed capacity to more than 1.2 MW. 

In cooperation with Rova střechy (formerly Lindab – a manufacturer of sheet metal roofs), Euronergy supplied special solar strips suitable for roofs for family houses, apartment buildings, monuments, etc. 

In accordance with the current RED 3 directive, the mandatory installation of PV plants is already planned for legislative reasons as part of the preparation of future constructions in the field of logistics, warehouses and commerce, and subsequently this obligation will also be transferred to the area of private construction.