Germany’s solar energy production is taking a significant step forward with a new collaboration between Encavis AG and Belectric, an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company. The two are jointly building a 114 MW solar farm in Borrentin, Northern Germany.
Project Launch
Construction on the project, Encavis’s largest solar farm in Germany, began with a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, as the company announced in a press release on Wednesday.
Borrentin’s mayor, Peter Rabe, attended the ceremony along with directors from Encavis, Belectric, and other project partners, as well as members of the press and community.
Mario Schirru, CIO/COO of Encavis AG, welcomed the project’s launch. Once complete, the farm will increase the company’s total generation capacity to 677 MW. “We appreciate the excellent cooperation with Belectric, which brings us a significant step forward on the way to reaching the 7 GW generation capacity ambition in Europe by 2027,” he said.
Scope and Capacity of the Solar Farm
The solar farm will feature over 200,000 modules spread across an area equivalent to 135 football fields. Its 114 MW capacity will raise Encavis’s generation capacity in its home market to 677 MW. Once operational, the farm is expected to provide 119 GWh of renewable power annually.
The Borrentin solar farm will be built on a site with an average soil rating of 27.26, indicating low agricultural potential. This ensures the project does not conflict with land needed for farming. For comparison, soil ratings of 40 or higher are considered suitable for agriculture, while ratings above 60 signify excellent quality.
The solar farm is expected to begin supplying green electricity to Allego, a prominent European electric vehicle charging network, in September 2024, under a ten-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Developers of the Project
As the solar farm’s owner and largest stakeholder, Encavis is a major player in renewable energy, with a portfolio of onshore wind and solar parks across twelve European nations. The company is also funding the project.
Belectric, a prominent EPC service provider for solar power plants in Europe, will manage the farm’s operation and maintenance in collaboration with Stern Energy, a company specializing in technical services for the installation, upkeep, and repowering of photovoltaic systems across Europe.
Solar Investment Opportunities in Germany
Germany’s transition to a low-carbon economy is driving the development of solar power plants, wind farms, and emerging geothermal technologies leveraging its natural resources. While not the leader in absolute installed capacity, Germany excels in key renewable sectors like wind energy and solar photovoltaics.
Germany’s dedication to renewable energy is evident in incentives like feed-in tariffs, which have spurred job growth and significant investments. This commitment has positioned the country as a European leader in clean energy and sustainable technologies, strengthening its fight against climate change.
The government has also set ambitious goals, aiming for renewables to make up 65% of the energy mix by 2030 and 80% by 2050. As the foundation of energy security for Europe’s largest economy, wind and solar power account for the majority of growth in Germany’s renewable energy investment.
