In Langenenslingen, Baden-Württemberg, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the initiation of construction for the region’s largest solar park, set to produce 80 megawatts (MW) of sustainable energy.
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There is still not a great deal to see on the site to the south of the district of Wilflingen in Langenenslingen. Since the beginning of February, however, it has been home to the construction site for the largest solar park in Baden-Württemberg.
With 80 megawatts (MW) of installed output, the plant that EnBW will build and operate here will be capable of generating enough solar power to supply around 30,000 households with electricity. It is set to enter into operation from mid-2025.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by a group representing local citizens. Biberach’s District Administrator Mario Glaser and Langenenslingen’s Mayor Andreas Schneider accepted EnBW’s invitation.
Work on the land-use planning process and securing the site for the project was carried out by EnBW in close conjunction with the project developer SolNet GmbH. The user contract for the site was signed in March 2020.
Even before the official groundbreaking ceremony, EnBW had already begun preliminary construction work for the solar park on the site. The substation used to feed the solar power into the 110-kilovolt grid will be built in 2025.
Commissioning and production of the first kilowatt-hours are planned for June 2025.
Once operational, the solar park is expected to cut carbon emissions by around 54,500 metric tons per year. Various compensatory measures will preserve the existing habitats of the native animal species.
To this end, landscape conservation measures were specified in the land-use planning process. Besides sowing seeds on the site, these measures include developing grassland for a large number of different species, planting a variety of shrubs, hedges and trees, and creating stepping stone biotopes.
The solar park will be built and operated without any funding under the Renewable Energies Act (EEG). ■