Solar park on the rails goes into operation
In Lübben in the Spreewald, the Groß Lubolz solar park with a peak output of 14.5 megawatts was put into operation along the railway line. The retrofitting of a battery storage system is prepared. In addition, biodiversity monitoring is carried out.
15.07.2024 – If you take the train from Berlin to Cottbus, you can take a look at a piece of successful energy transition at Lübben in the Spreewald. Around 26,000 solar modules were installed on the twelve-hectare area for the first part of the Groß Lubolz solar park, which has now gone into operation, along a railway line between Berlin and Cottbus. The expected annual yield of the solar park is around 15.5 million kilowatt hours, which corresponds to the annual demand of 4,875 average three-person households. reports the operator NaturEnergy. The solar power fed into the grid will thus avoid around 6,000 tonnes of CO annually in the future2emissions compared to the German electricity mix. In addition, high biodiversity standards have been established and implemented sustainably.
"With the Groß Lubolz solar park, our portfolio continues to grow," says NaturEnergy Managing Director Thomas E. Banning. The company, which emerged from the energy generation division of naturstrom AG and whose shares are currently still 57 percent owned by the green energy supplier, now operates solar and wind farms with 162 megawatts alone and with partners. "In the course of the year, we will also realize another solar park in Brandenburg, as well as - together with two regional partners - a wind farm repowering in eastern NRW," Banning announces.
Storage retrofit prepared
When it comes to the placement of the rows of modules and the access route, the subsequent retrofitting of a battery storage system is planned. "We deliberately want to keep this option open in Groß Lubolz," says Banning. "Feed-in that can be based on market value, the needs of potential corporate customers and grid utilization will become more important in the future."
Biodiversity in high demand
Ecological construction supervision ensures that the plant meets the highest biodiversity standards over its operating life: For example, the sowing of a wild herb mixture ensures that the areas are greened in a way that is appropriate to the site, while the creation of stump piles and replacement plantings in the form of hedge structures also promote biodiversity. In addition, sheep grazing is also planned to protect flora and fauna. The solar park thus meets all the requirements of the voluntary commitment "Good Planning" of the German Association of the New Energy Industry (bne).
Since the areas have also been used for intensive agriculture in some cases, the development with only minor sealing is upgrading. The soil can recover over a long period of time and is available for other uses in the event of later dismantling.