More than 36,600 solar modules supply green electricity for some 5,400 households

Photovoltaic plant has capacity of 20 MW peak

Plant was constructed on recultivated site on A 44 motorway

RWE is keeping up the pace with the expansion of its solar portfolio. In Bedburg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, the company has put a new photovoltaic plant into operation with a capacity of 20 MW peak (15.7 MWac). The plant was constructed on recultivated land close to the A 44 motorway in just six months. More than 36,600 solar modules generate enough green electricity to supply about 5,400 German households a year with climate-friendly power.

Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “We are putting every effort into expanding our solar portfolio, and this includes using sites alongside motorways, like the one here in Bedburg. This is the seventh solar project that we have connected to the grid in the Rhenish lignite area, as we work to drive forward the energy transition in our home market of Germany. All in all, we will invest about 11 billion euros net in green generation capacity in Germany by 2030.”

Keeping up the pace for the expansion of renewables in the Rhenish lignite area

Immediately adjacent to the Bedburg solar plant, RWE is trialling the combination of agriculture and green electricity generation at its Agri-PV demonstration plant. In addition to the Agri-PV plant and the new solar farm in Bedburg, RWE already operates five large solar projects in the Rhenish lignite area – four of them with integrated battery storage systems. Further photovoltaic projects in the region are being planned, for example in the Hambach opencast mine.

Green growth in the domestic market

RWE has more than 20 years of experience in developing, constructing and operating renewable energy plants. In its home market of Germany the company operates onshore wind farms and solar plants with a total installed capacity of about 700 megawatts. RWE is seeking locations throughout Germany in order to drive the expansion of renewables further forward. If a site is suitable for wind farms or solar plants, the company assumes the entire task of planning, construction and subsequent operation.