With a worldwide market share of about 70 percent, Sunkid GmbH from Imst is the leader in passenger transport on conveyors for ski areas. The team gathered around both Executive Directors - CEO Emanuel Wohlfarter, M.A. and CTO Herbert Zopf, eng. - has been working on the continued development, as well as new areas of application of Sunkid products for years. From the beginning, the company placed the highest importance on protecting the environment, with utmost energy efficiency in all applications.

This first-ever project was implemented in the Zillertal-Arena and has now been presented to the public. "The new conveyor belt Gallery enclosure equipped with solar panels produces more green power than it actually requires. The excess electricity can then be provided to the power grid", explains Manuel Kammerer, project leader. Sunkid CEO Emanuel Wohlfarter, M.A., anticipates worldwide demand for the new Sunkid system, due to the quick return on investment costs, as well as the extremely low operating costs. David Kammerlander, Managing Director of the Gerlos Ski Lift Center, is happy that with this investment, the Zillertal Arena has once again displayed its innovative strength and technological leadership in particular in the area of environmentally-friendly energy production. The conveyor belt Gallery enclosure, developed in 2001, protects passengers from snow, rain, wind, and cold - while offering a clear view of the outside. And for the lift operators, the Gallery offers plenty of advantages - particularly allowing quick and easy startup even in the worst weather and snowfall conditions. .

A photovoltaic array generates electricity by converting incoming light hitting the solar cells into current. These solar cells are manufactured from quartz sand (silicon) and traces of other elements. Multiple solar cells are connected by small metal leads to form one solar panel in a housing. Multiple solar panels are then connected in series. The energy they produce (direct current) is converted into alternating current by means of an inverter. The solar energy is then usually passed on to the power grid.

Solar power is one of the most environmentally friendly means of generating electricity. It produces no noise, no emissions and requires no fuel aside from sunlight. The production of solar cells generally uses recycled materials, including some waste materials from other industries.

Depending on location, orientation and the specific technology, sunlight can produce between 80 and 120 kWh of electricity per square meter of solar panel. A 9 - 10 m² solar array can generate approximately 1000 Watts of electrical power. This means energy gains of 800 to 900 kWh per year, depending on location.

Optimal alignment of a solar array in our latitudes involves placement at 30 degrees roof slope facing south. If the system deviates from this alignment by 45 degrees toward southwest or southeast, the energy gains drop by 5 to 10 percent. Even a perpendicular surface (solar face: 90°) still harvests up to 70 percent of the potential electric power.

In Austria, the national Green Energy Act regulates pricing for electricity surpluses. Yearly renewal of the Act determines the amount refunded for energy contributions to the national power grid. The amount of the allowance varies depending on the location of energy installations. In order to receive the subsidy, 100 percent of the electricity generated by a solar array must be routed back into the grid.