Waidhofen/Ybbs – Bene invests $10 million in thermal roof renovation and photovoltaic system

Office furniture manufacturer Waidhofen Bene has invested more than 10 million euros in the renovation of the thermal roof and the photovoltaic system. The system consists of 6,930 photovoltaic modules and covers an area of ​​13,200 square metres. The photovoltaic system can cover a third of the annual electricity needs, while the remaining requirements are covered entirely by electricity from hydropower.

In addition to supplying the production hall and the head office, the generated photovoltaic electricity is also used in the company’s 23 e-charging stations. The total system output at the Waidhofen site is 3 megawatt peak (MWp), which corresponds to the energy requirements of around 800 households. Excess electricity from the photovoltaic system is fed into the public grid. The current maximum feed-in is 249 kW. Once this limit is lifted, Bene can inject additional energy into the system.

Reduce costs and CO2 emissions

The installation of the photovoltaic system on the roof of the production hall and the office building increases independence from the energy supply and reduces electricity costs and CO2 emissions by around 100 tons per year. The company's load profile, which has the highest electricity demand between 8 am and 6 pm, is ideally suited to solar power generation.

“We are proud to have successfully completed one of the largest single investments. This marks a milestone in the company’s history and a strong signal of sustainability and innovative strength,” says Manfred Huber, Managing Director Operations, Logistics and Purchasing at Bene. “The combination of the latest roofing technology and renewable energy enables a significant reduction in the environmental footprint and promotes Bene’s sustainable development.”

Sustainable Project Financing

The sustainable financing model was developed in collaboration with Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI). The financing was implemented using the Reserve Bank of India Sustainable Loan, supported by funding from the Austrian Economic Service.