RWE is building large-scale solar farms alongside a motorway in Germany.
The photovoltaic systems are taking shape on recultivated land at the Garzweiler opencast mine on both sides of the A44n between Bedburg and Jüchen.
The total capacity exceeds 86MWp and commissioning is planned for the end of 2025.
In total, around 141,000 solar modules will supply electricity for some 27,700 households.
RWE’s chief executive for renewables in Europe and Australia Katja Wünschel said: “We are making every effort to drive forward the expansion of our solar portfolio, and are making increasing use of locations alongside motorways.
“These projects not only benefit from faster approval processes but in most cases also enjoy a much higher level of public acceptance.
“Our new solar plants along the A44n could thus serve as a role model for further projects in the region and beyond.”
Lignite division chief technology officer Lars Kulik said: “The solar projects along the A44n emphasise that structural change and the expansion of renewables in the Rhenish mining area are moving forward at a strong pace.
“There is plenty of space in and around our opencast mines that we are also using for solar projects.
“The new plants are taking shape on recultivated land, and they are connected via the grid infrastructure at Garzweiler opencast mine.
“The employees of RWE Power also contribute their knowledge and experience to support the construction and subsequent operation of the solar plants.
“That means we are creating further prospects for our co-workers here in the region.”
A strip of land alongside the A44n near Bedburg became the site of a photovoltaic system constructed by RWE last year.
In the immediate vicinity, RWE is also trialling the combination of agriculture and green electricity generation at its agrivoltaics demonstration plant.
All in all, RWE operates seven solar farms in the Rhenish region, four with their own integrated battery storage units.
In April, RWE began construction of a new photovoltaic system at Hambach opencast mine.
Near the township of Niederzier, more than 22,000 solar modules are being installed, which will collectively generate enough electricity to supply about 4500 standard German households.
Further photovoltaic projects in the region are at the planning stage.