Release
MAN Ferrostaal donates solar roof for school in Palestine
- Cooperation with the German Energy Agency (dena)
- Supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
- Initiated by the “Future for Palestine” initiative of the Federal Foreign Office
MAN Ferrostaal is financing a solar thermal power plant for warm water and heating as a donation for Talitha Kumi school near Beit Jala, Palestine.
In a public private partnership, the project is co-financed by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology and co-ordinated by the German Energy Agency (dena) within the framework of its Solar Roofs Programme for Foreign Market Development. MAN Ferrostaal contributes the major part of the funding for the solar plant, which has a value of about 170.000 EUR.
The German school Talitha Kumi is situated in the Palestinian West Bank close to the Israeli border. Currently, 900 boys and girls from various religious denominations make up the pupil body of the school. Talitha Kumi relies on donations. The considerable operating expenses for the facilities, especially costs for heating and warm water, are a particular burden on the school’s budget.
“The donation provides MAN Ferrostaal with the opportunity to show social commitment where it has an immediate effect,” explains Dr. Matthias Mitscherlich, Chairman of the Executive Board of MAN Ferrostaal, the decision to donate the plant. “Talitha Kumi enables children and young adults to live a normal life in a difficult region, to receive a good education, vocational training, and even to enrol in university later on. The practice of mutual respect, tolerance and of coming together, play an especially important role in that.” At the same time, the donation gives MAN Ferrostaal the chance to make its solar power division visible to the public in the Middle East. The idea for the project itself originated with the “Future for Palestine” initiative of Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad.
In the opinion of Stephan Kohler, Executive Director of the German Energy Agency, the Middle East is of particular interest for solar technology projects. “Many countries have ideal preconditions: growing economies, a growing population, an increasing energy demand and an intensive solar radiation around the year. The plant for Talitha Kumi shows clearly what can be realized with solar solutions in the region. The dena Solar Roofs Programme is an ideal platform to showcase and communicate the positive effects of the use of solar energy from an economical, environmental and social point of view. It also demonstrates the immense potentials for the creation of new employment opportunities in these countries.”
The installation of the solar plant at Talitha Kumi is to take place on schedule in September and October 2009. The plant will go into operation in early December. An event at Talitha Kumi, celebrating the new plant going into operation, will be attended by faculty members of the school and the board of MAN Ferrostaal, the Managing Director of the German Energy Agency, representatives of the two German Federal Ministries, the Palestinian National Authority and members of the Berlin Mission.
About MAN Ferrostaal AG
MAN Ferrostaal AG, Essen, is a global provider of industrial services in plant construction and engineering. As a general contractor in plant construction, the company offers project development, project management and financial planning for turnkey installations, including petrochemical plants, gas and solar power stations, oil and gas installations, biofuels and industrial plants. MAN Ferrostaal operates as an independent sales and service partner for machine and systems manufacturers in the automotive, printing and packaging machinery, piping and marine construction sectors, and employs around 4,400 people in 60 different countries. In 2008, its annual turnover amounted to 1.6 billion euros. 70% of the shares in MAN Ferrostaal AG are held by the International Petroleum Investment Company from Abu Dhabi (IPIC), while 30% are owned by MAN AG (Munich, Germany). www.manferrostaal.com.
About the German Energy Agency (dena)
The Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – the German Energy Agency – is the German competence centre for energy efficiency and renewable energies. Its manifold objectives include the rational and thus environmentally-friendly production, conversion and use of energy and the development of sustainable energy systems with a greater emphasis on renewable energy sources. Its shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany, the KfW Bankengruppe (KfW banking group), Allianz SE, Deutsche Bank AG and DZ BANK AG. www.dena.de/en
About the dena Solar Roofs Programme for Foreign Market Development
The “dena Solar Roofs Programme for Foreign Market Development” was developed by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – the German Energy Agency. Over the past five years, this programme which is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology has supported German solar energy firms introducing services and products to international markets. The dena Solar Roofs Programme provides a framework for the planning and installation of solar thermal energy and photovoltaic power systems in promising foreign markets, often at German international schools or Goethe-Institutes. The initiative delivers training programs, public relations and marketing efforts to accompany these installations.