News & Media releases
Shell Solar, GEOSOL and WestFonds officially open world's biggest solar park - Leipzig, Germany
08/09/2004
Shell Solar, GEOSOL and WestFonds, have officially opened the world's largest grid connected PV power plant, comprising of 33,500 modules, with an output of 5 MW. The power generated from the solar park will be fed into the grid and will be sufficient to meet the electricity demand of about 1,800 households. The solar power station will save some 3,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Federal Minister Trittin, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety officially inaugurated the park.
The project was initiated and developed by GEOSOL, whilst Shell Solar is the system supplier and the prime construction contractor. WestFonds has with its acquisition of the solar park and the launch of the closed-end funds WestFonds Solar 1 demonstrated the increasing interest to invest in the renewable energy sector.
Hans Willemsen, Executive Vice President of Shell Solar, said today: "This project clearly demonstrates Shell's determination and commitment to building a leading and profitable business in solar energy. Shell Solar has strategically been involved in the development of large-scale solar projects in Germany such as this, as we believe that these projects contribute to economies of scale, which result in increasing demand in the market for solar (PV) power. We are delighted to have worked with such solid partners GEOSOL and WestFonds who like us, strongly believe in these kind of projects."
The PV power plant is situated on a former lignite-mine ash deposit in Espenhain near Leipzig, once one of the most polluted areas of Germany. The power plant is built on 21.6 ha of land of which 16 ha are used for the solar system and around 2 ha are dedicated to create a biotope. The modules are mounted on a special designed wooden system of robin wood, placed in 6 rows, with a total of 33,500 modules. The power will be fed into the grid that is operated by enviaM Mitteldeutsche Energie AG.