In Garzweiler, Germany, RWE is currently building two photovoltaic power plants equipped with a battery storage system.
Two new solar power plants
In Garzweiler, RWE is installing two photovoltaic power plants at the lignite mine near the town of Bedburg in North Rhine-Westphalia. The power plants also include a battery storage system that allows the use of solar energy on cloudy days. Thanks to the installed solar modules, they absorb sunlight at the front and back.
The Garzweiler site has 58,340 solar modules. They will supply 7250 homes with electricity. The construction of one of the two photovoltaic plants has already started.
Scheduled for spring 2023, the collaboration between RWE and the city of Bedburg looks set to be successful. Sascha Solbach, mayor of the city of Bedburg says:
“In order to ensure a clean and reliable supply of electricity, we not only need more energy from renewable sources, but also storage solutions like those implemented by RWE at the Garzweiler mine. This way, consumers can use solar energy even after the sun has set.”
Christian Meisen, RWE project manager, adds:
“We aim to have our two combined PV and storage systems in operation by early 2023. To maximize the production of green energy, we use bifacial modules, which are photosensitive on both sides. The advantage: in addition to the sunlight that strikes the panels directly, they also use the light reflected from the ground behind the modules. This makes these panels extremely effective. And with batteries, the power supply can be optimally adapted to meet the demand. We are implementing this integrated factory concept at multiple sites at the same time.”
RWE focuses on the Rhine region
This is the first photovoltaic plant with a peak production capacity of 19.4 megawatts peak (MWp) and a storage capacity of 6.5MW. It is installed directly below the Königshovener Höhe wind farm. In addition, the site will be jointly operated by the city of Bedburg and RWE.
Second, the Jackerath project has 12.1MWp of photovoltaic capacity and 4.1MW of battery storage. Currently under construction, it is located at the western end of the open pit. The batteries are designed for a two-hour charge and power cycle.
Finally, there will be the commissioning of a similar plant at the nearbyInden mine. It is, for this one, more than 26,500 solar modules with a battery storage system. The plant can supply some 4,000 homes with green electricity.
