Biggest solar park in Germany without state funding inaugurated

It is a new way of ramping up the use of solar energy in Germany, as EnBW board member Georg Stamatelopoulos explained in his speech at the official inauguration ceremony. “We must be faster and more digital in order to increase the pace of expansion for renewable energies. Processes must be streamlined and legally sound. The relevant authorities also need additional staff,” he said. Given the German government's aim of raising the level of gross energy consumption met by renewable energies to 65% by 2030, there would have to be an annual increase in photovoltaic capacity of 10 000 MW – twice as high as the figure to date.

Good interaction for the energy transition

There was good interaction between the administrative bodies, government agencies, local authorities, and the people who live near to the location for this project. The construction approval process involving the authorities and the district of Barnim was completed in just five months. Werneuchen Municipal Council also embraced the development and land-use planning process. Stamatelopoulos thanked the local people for backing this energy transition project.

Andreas Feicht, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, welcomed the guests and said: “The Weesow-Willmersdorf solar park shows us how the future of renewable development can look. With projects that consider the climate, nature and species conservation as a whole, are planned in close consultation with local people and institutions, while being built without the need for EEG funding. I hope that this example will catch on and be replicated elsewhere, then the energy transition in Germany will succeed.”

Annual generation of approximately 180 million kWh of power will cut carbon emissions by approximately 129 000 tpy. EnBW itself has set a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2035. Between 2021 and 2025, the company invested approximately €4 billion in renewable energies. It is currently building another two major photovoltaic projects, each with a capacity of 150 MW, not far from Weesow-Willmersdorf solar park, thereby creating a unique solar cluster in Brandenburg made up of three large solar power plants.

Promoting biodiversity

With an area covering 164 ha., the entire solar park site has been designed as a biodiverse green space. Another 45 ha. belong to the project site. Part of this area is occupied by public pathways that run through the solar park and are used by walkers and riders. EnBW is planting native deciduous and fruit trees on the additional space, including maple, oak, and mountain ash as well as apple and pear trees. Plus there will be over 16 000 bushes – including hornbeam, dogwood, hawthorn, and many other species – as soon as the weather conditions are right for transplanting them from the nursery.

13 stepping-stone biotopes provide shelter for small animals. Photos captured by wildlife cameras show that the solar park is proving to be an attractive habitat for the fauna of the region.

Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/solar/16112021/biggest-solar-park-in-germany-without-state-funding-inaugurated/