RWE has completed the first phase of its fifth solar farm located within a former opencast mine in the Rhenish mining district.
Shortly after commissioning the RWE Neuland solar farm in the Hambach opencast mine, the initial 36,700 solar modules of the neighboring RWE Neuland 1 solar farm have begun feeding green electricity into the grid.
Capacity and Future Expansion
The first stage of this new photovoltaic plant has a capacity of 20 MWp (17.6 MWac), capable of supplying around 5,370 households with climate-friendly electricity. A 15.2 MWp (12 MWac) expansion is already underway.
Location and Future Plans
The two extensive photovoltaic plants, RWE Neuland and RWE Neuland 1, presently comprising almost 50,000 solar modules, are situated at the base of Sophienhöhe hill near the future shoreline of the planned Hambach Lake.
Until the lake is filled, this area can continue producing solar electricity for years. Furthermore, plans are in progress for an additional solar farm on the western edge of the opencast mine, north of Niederzier.
Community Benefits
The neighboring towns and municipalities are also set to benefit from these solar installations. A collaboration agreement has been signed with Neuland Hambach GmbH, which represents the interests of the six municipalities adjacent to the opencast mine: Elsdorf, Jülich, Kerpen, Merzenich, Niederzier, and Titz. This agreement ensures that the local communities share in the advantages of the renewable energy projects.