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Powering Europe Subsidy-Free: A New Era for Utility-Scale Solar

Published in: Solar, Digital Blog

Powering Europe Subsidy-Free: A New Era for Utility-Scale Solar image

The Witznitz solar park, located near Leipzig, Germany, represents a new era for large-scale solar energy in Europe. With a capacity of 650 megawatts (MW), it is one of the continent's largest photovoltaic installations and serves as a powerful blueprint for sustainable development and energy security. The project is expected to generate approximately 0.6 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually, enough to power around 200,000 households.

A New Financial Blueprint for Solar

A key feature that sets the Witznitz solar park apart is its subsidy-free financial model. The project operates without receiving any state subsidies or grants, demonstrating the growing economic viability of large-scale solar energy. Instead of relying on government support, the project's financial stability is secured through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with a major off-taker. The financial backing was provided by the institutional investor SIGNAL IDUNA through its affiliate HANSAINVEST Real Assets GmbH, highlighting the increasing confidence of financial institutions in renewable energy as a sound investment.

The Technology Powering Witznitz

The impressive energy output of the solar park is driven by cutting-edge technology from JinkoSolar, which supplied over 1.1 million of its Tiger Neo solar modules for the project.

  • Module Technology: The park utilizes JinkoSolars Tiger Neo 72 Bifacial Dual Glass modules.
  • Core Innovation: These modules are built using state-of-the-art n-type TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) technology.
  • Performance Advantages: TOPCon technology offers several key benefits over traditional designs, including higher efficiency, lower degradation rates, and superior performance in challenging conditions.

The electricity generated is fed into the extra high voltage grid of 50 Hertz Transmission GmbH via two substations that were designed and built by the projects developer, MOVE ON Energy GmbH.

More Than Megawatts: A Commitment to Community and Biodiversity

The Witznitz solar park is a landmark example of how renewable energy projects can also deliver significant environmental and social benefits.

  • Land Repurposing: The entire facility is located on former mining land, repurposing an industrial site for renewable energy generation and supporting regional renaturation efforts.
  • Enhancing Biodiversity: The project design incorporated extensive nature conservation measures. These include the planting of nearly 21 kilometers of field hedges to serve as visual protection and breeding grounds for wildlife, the creation of flower meadows, and the installation of nest boxes for birds and bats.
  • Local Economic Benefits: The development and operation of the park have created jobs in construction, operations, and maintenance. Additionally, new recreational trails for hikers and cyclists have been established, making the region more attractive for tourism.

As an essential part of Germanys Energiewende (energy transition), the Witznitz solar park is a strategic milestone in the effort to achieve a 100% renewable energy system by 2045 and serves as a model for the rest of Europe.

Discover more about the technology behind this project: https://www.jinkosolar.eu

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