The Witznitz Energy Park is a photovoltaic (PV) solar power facility located in Germany. With an installed capacity of 650MW, it ranks among Europe’s largest solar installations. The project was initiated and developed by Hansainvest Real Assets and is operated by MOVE ON Energy.
Project Location
The Witznitz Energy Park is situated near Leipzig in Saxony, eastern Germany. It occupies an area of approximately 500 hectares across the municipalities of Neukieritzsch, Böhlen, and Rötha. The site’s previous use as an open-cast lignite mine highlights a shift from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy, demonstrating industrial site repurposing and regional regeneration efforts.
The proximity of the energy park to Leipzig provides strategic access to existing energy infrastructure and supports local and regional energy demand.
Witznitz Energy Park Capacity and Infrastructure
The Witznitz solar facility has a generating capacity of 650MW, enabling it to produce around 600GWh of electricity annually. This output is sufficient to supply the electricity needs of approximately 200,000 average households in the region, significantly contributing to local energy independence and grid stability.
Infrastructure at the site includes approximately 1.1 million solar photovoltaic modules and about 3,500 Delta M125HV inverters. The operational infrastructure is complemented by 207 transformer stations, facilitating effective energy conversion and smooth integration into the national grid. Each of these stations connects between 12 and 18 inverters.
Electricity generated at the site is channelled to an overhead transmission line via a specially constructed transformer station, which includes two 110kV transformers and two 380kV transformers. This infrastructure ensures efficient and reliable electricity transmission into the broader energy network.
Development and Timeline
Construction of the Witznitz Energy Park began in 2022 and was completed in 2024. At the height of construction activities, the project provided employment opportunities for up to 500 workers simultaneously. The successful transformation from lignite mining operations to solar power generation illustrates how former industrial sites can be effectively converted for renewable energy purposes.
Power Purchase Agreement and Financing Details
Hansainvest Real Assets has secured a long-term 15-year power purchase agreement with Shell Energy Europe, covering 600MW of the facility’s generation capacity. Additionally, Shell Energy committed to supplying 323MW of power from the Witznitz solar project to Microsoft. This aligns with Microsoft’s sustainability objectives, specifically their commitment to sourcing 100% renewable energy by 2025.
Financing for the Witznitz Energy Park involved investment from German insurance company Signal Iduna through its affiliate, Hansainvest Real Assets, securing rights to 605MW of the total capacity. This financing model illustrates collaboration between industry, investment, and renewable energy initiatives.
Witznitz Energy Park Technological Details
The solar park uses high-performance JinkoSolar Tiger Neo photovoltaic modules. The inverters provided by Delta, the M125HV models, are specifically designed for systems operating at 1500V DC and 600V AC. These units include advanced cooling technology and achieve efficiency ratings up to 99.1%. Compliance with VDE-AR-N 4120/4130 standards ensures that the power generated integrates seamlessly into Germany’s 380kV grid.
Environmental Impact
The transformation from coal mining to solar energy significantly reduced the site’s environmental footprint. The park’s annual production of electricity prevents approximately 250,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Environmental enhancements implemented at the site include the installation of nesting boxes for local bird and bat populations, the creation of habitats such as rock piles and ponds, and the planting of approximately 23km of hedgerows. These measures aim to boost local biodiversity and ecological resilience.
Contractors and Suppliers
Shanghai-based Jinko Solar provided the solar modules, while Delta supplied the inverters required for the project.
German utility company 50Hertz partnered with MOVE ON Energy to manage inverter maintenance and renewable energy integration into the grid.
The Kreutzpointner Group, specialising in electrical engineering, automation, IT, and solar technologies, was involved in the project’s construction.
