Europe's Largest Solar Plant Inaugurated in Germany

Hansainvest Real Assets, in partnership with developer Move On Energy, has officially inaugurated a solar park with a peak capacity of 605 MW. Located on repurposed coal land near Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, this facility is the largest in Europe and is set to expand by an additional 45 MW by the end of June 2024.

Rapid Development and Strategic Investment

Construction of the Witznitz solar farm began in June 2022 and reached completion in just 22 months. Spanning over 500 hectares of the former Witznitz II open-pit coal mine and an additional 150 hectares of adjacent land, the project deployed approximately 1.1 million solar modules. The area also includes new cycling and hiking paths totaling 13 kilometers, alongside hedges and forest areas to enhance environmental and social sustainability.

Record-Breaking Capacity

The Witznitz facility surpassed the previous record holder, Iberdrola’s Francisco Pizarro plant in Spain, which has a peak capacity of 590 MW and a 553 MW network connection. While Turkey's 1.35 GW solar plant in Konya province is larger, it is geographically located in Asia Minor and therefore does not compete within the European context. Europe’s second-largest PV plant is now the 500 MW Núñez de Balboa project in Spain.

Future Prospects and Parallel Agricultural Use

Hansainvest Real Assets and Move On Energy are also exploring agrisolar, or agrivoltaics, by testing agricultural activities alongside solar power generation on over five hectares of the site. This innovative approach aims to maximize land use efficiency and promote sustainable development.

Power Purchase Agreements and Sustainability Initiatives

In a notable move, Shell Energy Europe signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for 600 MW of the Witznitz solar park’s output. Additionally, a separate deal was made with Microsoft to supply 323 MW of electricity. These agreements highlight the growing demand for renewable energy from major corporations.

Contributing to the Energy Transition

The inauguration of the Witznitz solar farm marks a significant milestone in Europe’s renewable energy landscape. With photovoltaic installations surpassing hydropower in global nominal electricity generation capacity, projects like Witznitz play a crucial role in the transition to a sustainable energy future. The rapid development of large-scale solar investments, particularly in Southeastern Europe, underscores the continent’s commitment to expanding its renewable energy infrastructure.

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