Enlarge

Bangalore, the third-largest city in India, has long been established as a centre for research and technical progress. The aerospace industry for India is located there, the software and biotech industries are significant economic sectors. This openness to embrace new technologies also makes Bangalore an interesting market for modern solar technology. This is why Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH decided to implement a reference project for solar thermics in this south Indian metropolis.

As part of the of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency, a large-scale solar facility was realised: the business hotel “Novotel Bengaluru Techpark”, which previously required approx. 17,000 litres of diesel per year to heat water, was equipped with 100 elevated solarthermic collectors. The solar facility on the hotel roof is connected with a 6,000-litre buffer tank, which provides approx. 60-degree hot water to the 215 hotel rooms, the restaurant kitchen and the hotel‘s own laundry. The facility, which was opened on 23 December 2014, covers about half of the hotel’s hot water requirements, thereby reducing its annual CO2 emissions by 30 tonnes.

Workshops and training – the basis for sustainable success

The new solarthermic facility is not only an asset from an ecological and economic perspective. Bosch partners, including engineers, planners, architects and, most of all, local plumbers and electricians benefit too.

Through the roadshows and training courses implemented as part of this project in many parts of India, Bosch achieved several targets: increased awareness of the use of regenerative technologies, and gain of new local local partners, who were trained in the fields of installation, technical commissioning and aftersales. They now have access to the facility for further training and information events.

About the German project partner

Bosch Solarthermie GmbH was founded in 1978, with headquarters in Wettringen (Münsterland, Germany) and is one of the world leaders in manufacturing solarthermic systems. The collectors and other system components are manufactured in the Bosch Centre of Expertise. These products are distributed worldwide in more than 50 countries under the well-known Bosch Thermotechnik brands, such as Bosch, Buderus and Junkers. Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH represents the thermotechnology sector of the Bosch Group and belongs to the global leaders in supplying energyefficient solutions for air conditioning and hot water convenience.

This project is part of the worldwide dena Renewable Energy Solutions Programme.