Germany's largest solar park near Leipzig in operation

Energy transition - Germany's largest solar park near Leipzig in operation

Solar Power instead of Brown Coal: After approximately two years of planning and construction, the Energy Park Witznitz south of Leipzig has officially opened. According to the operators, it is not only the largest solar park in Germany, but also the "largest contiguous solar park in Europe."

The Saxon Minister-President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) said at the symbolic opening, the largest solar park in Germany is being built in Central Germany. The commissioning marks a transformation - away from brown coal, towards renewable energies: "We want to remain an industrial region, and for that we need renewable energies."

Power for around 200,000 households

The Energy Park is located on the site of the former brown coal open-pit mine Witznitz II and covers a area of around 500 hectares - that's about 700 football fields. More than one million modules were installed here for the 650-Megawatt solar park. The amount is enough to supply power to 200,000 Four-Person households. Behind the project is the company Move On Energy. Each year, emissions of more than 250,000 tons of Carbon Dioxide are expected to be saved.

Financing in the mid-triple digit million range

The solar park was financed by an investment from the insurance group Signal Iduna - without state subsidies. According to the company, this involves a mid-triple digit million investment. The owner is the financial daughter company Hansainvest Real Assets. "With our investment in this lighthouse project of the energy transition, we as an insurance group take responsibility for a sustainable future and give an important impetus for the revitalization of the region," said the Finance Director of Signal Iduna, Martin Berger.

1. Michael Kretschmer, the Minister-President of Saxony and a CDU member, celebrated the opening of the Opencast lignite mining-turned-Solar Park Witznitz, located south of Leipzig.
2. Kretschmer highlighted that the largest solar park in Germany was being built in the heart of Central Germany, signaling a shift away from brown coal towards renewable energy sources.
3. The Energy Park Witznitz, with a construction time of approximately two years, is not only the largest solar park in Germany but also the "largest contiguous solar park in Europe."
4. The project, covering an area of around 500 hectares or approximately 700 football fields, was developed by the company Move On Energy.
5. The Solar Park, equipped with more than one million modules, will generate up to 650 Megawatts of electricity, enough to power around 200,000 four-person households in Germany.
6. The construction of the Solar Park in Saxony is an essential step in Germany's energy transition, expected to save more than 250,000 tons of Carbon Dioxide emissions annually.
7. The financing for the Solar Park was approached by the insurance group Signal Iduna with a mid-triple digit million-euro investment, mainly without state subsidies.
8. The ownership of the Solar Park is held by Hansainvest Real Assets, a financial daughter company of Signal Iduna, which aims to contribute to a sustainable future and stimulate regional revitalization through renewable energy investment.

Read also:

• Tough return to normality in snow and ice
• Steinmeier joined a moment of silence - a legal battle over an AfD protest.
• German national soccer team on their way to participate in the European Championship qualifying matches.
• The flooding has lessened, but the aftermath of mud remains.