RWE Builds Photovoltaic Systems with Storage in the Rhenish Revier
November 28,2022 -- Using solar energy – even when the sun isn't shining? This is possible thanks to photovoltaic systems with associated electricity storage. RWE is currently constructing two of these plants in the Garzweiler opencast lignite mine near Bedburg (Rhein-Erft district). A total of over 58,340 modules are to capture solar energy in the future in order to produce green electricity for more than 7,250 households.
Sascha Solbach, Mayor of the City of Bedburg: 'For a clean and reliable power supply, we not only need more renewable energies, but also storage solutions such as those implemented by RWE in the Garzweiler opencast mine. This means that our citizens can also use solar power after the sun has set.”
A system with a peak output of 19.4 megawatts (MW peak) and a storage capacity of 6.5 MW is being built directly below the Königshovener Höhe wind farm operated by the city of Bedburg and RWE. Work has already begun on this area: Parts of the substructure have been erected and the first modules have been set up. The Jackerath project with 12.1 MWp and 4.1 MW battery storage is being built on the western edge of the opencast mine. The storage systems are each designed for a two-hour power consumption and output.
'The two locations together are about the size of 38 soccer fields,' explains Markus Kosma, production manager at RWE Power's opencast mines. “This shows that not only our large-scale recultivation, but also the opencast mining areas that are still active offer plenty of space for renewables. So that the area will remain an energy location in the future.”
RWE project manager Christian Meisen adds: “Our two photovoltaic storage systems should go into operation at the beginning of 2023. So that they generate as much green electricity as possible, we rely on bifacial modules, i.e. light-sensitive modules from both sides.” The advantage: in addition to direct radiation, the sunlight reflected from the ground onto the back of the modules can also be used. 'That makes these modules very efficient,' says Meisen. “And with the storage, we can optimally adjust the electricity feed-in to demand. An integrated plant concept that we are implementing at several locations.”
A comparable facility is about to be commissioned in the Inden opencast mine. Here, RWE has combined over 26,500 solar modules with battery storage. Around 4,000 households can be supplied with the electricity generated. Another photovoltaic storage system is to be built in the Hambach opencast mine. By 2030, RWE intends to set up at least 500 megawatts of power on a renewable basis in the Rhenish lignite mining area alone.
Image: (from left to right) Sascha Solbach, Mayor of the City of Bedburg, Markus Kosma, Production Manager of RWE Power's opencast mines, Sarah-Kristin Röder, Economic Development Agency of the City of Bedburg, Christian Meisen, PV Project Manager at RWE Renewables and Geert van de Sanden, Volta Solar. Source: RWE
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