RWE is continuing to expand its solar portfolio: the company is building a new photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 20 megawatts peak (15.7 MWac) in the municipality of Bedburg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. More than 36,600 solar modules will generate enough green electricity to supply around 5,400 households.

Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “The latest figures confirm the record expansion of renewables in Germany. I am delighted that we at RWE are playing our part in this. The plant in Bedburg is already the seventh solar project we have initiated in the Rhenish lignite area. Most of them are combined with storage facilities. In this way, we are driving forward the energy transition in our home market of Germany. In total, we will invest around 11 billion euros net in green generation capacity in Germany by 2030.”

Accelerating the expansion of renewable energy in the Rhenish mining region

The new solar farm is being built on recultivated land at the Garzweiler opencast mine – within 200 metres of the A44 motorway. Construction has already begun. The new photovoltaic plant is expected to start supplying electricity in late summer. On the opposite side of the motorway, RWE has built its first agrivoltaics demonstration plant. In addition, RWE already operates three large photovoltaic storage power plants at the Rhenish mining area and is realising two further solar projects with a total capacity of over 51 MWp in the Hambach opencast mine – one of them with integrated battery storage. Further photovoltaic projects are planned in the region.

Green growth at home

RWE has more than 20 years of experience in the development, construction and operation of renewable energy facilities. In its home market of Germany, the company operates onshore wind farms and solar power plants with a total installed capacity of around 700 megawatts. RWE is looking for sites throughout Germany to drive forward the expansion of renewable energy. If a site is suitable for wind or solar power, the company will take over the entire planning, construction and subsequent operation.