Nuremberg – Leoni, the leading provider of cable systems to the automotive sector and other industries, is equipping the Lieberose solar farm in Brandenburg, which is the world’s second largest photovoltaic plant with output of 53 megawatts, with special cables. These will carry the current from about 700,000 solar modules. Leoni is currently expanding its capacity for further growth in the renewable energy market. The Company will shortly be presenting its portfolio at the 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Hamburg.

By equipping the Lieberose solar farm, Leoni is involved in a project that points the way to future. The last section of the photovoltaic system, which is being set up on a former army training ground near the eastern German city of Cottbus, will still be hooked up to the grid in 2009. As Germany’s most powerful and the world’s second largest solar energy plant, it will provide annual output of approx. 53 million kWh, which covers the demand of 15,000 households. juwi solar GmbH, one of the leading project developers of solar, wind and bioenergy plants, is building the solar farm across an area of 162 hectares, which is the size of more than 210 football fields.

Leoni is equipping the solar power plant with installation cables, which will carry the electricity generated by the approximately 700,000 solar modules to the system’s inverters. More than 1,000 kilometres of this highly sophisticated cable will be installed for this purpose. “It meets the heavy demands to which the solar modules themselves are also subjected,” explains Marc Ziegler, purchasing coordinator of juwi Solar GmbH: Leoni’s cable is extremely weather resistant and has an expected useful life of at least 150,000 operating hours, which allows it to be used for more than 30 years.

The BETAflam solar cable used is double-insulated, halogen-free and highly robust: it is flame retardant as well as resistant to UV, ozone, hydrolysis, heat and cold from –40 to +120 °C. It is, furthermore, the first cable that can be universally used in both Europe and America for installation in photovoltaic systems because it is approved by both the TÜV (German Technical Inspection Association) and the American UL (Underwriters Laboratories).

Leoni is expanding its capacity to produce solar cables to meet the rising demand in these two most important photovoltaic markets. “We are experiencing growing demand for our products and services in the area of renewable energy. There is call especially for our technological knowledge, global footprint and ability to supply cables and cable systems on a just-in-time basis,” said Dr Klaus Probst, President and CEO of Leoni AG.

Leoni will present its products, services and references at the 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, which takes place from 21 to 24 September in Hamburg’s CCH Congress Center, on Stand 68 in Hall B6.

Further images can be found here.

Leoni at the EU PV SEC: Hall B6, Stand 68: www.photovoltaic-conference.com