RWE has commissioned Schönau solar farm, the company’s first photovoltaic plant in Saxony, Germany.
A total of 36,000 solar modules produce around 21 million kilowatt hours of green electricity in the town of Wildenfels, in the district of Zwickau.
This is enough to supply the equivalent of 6,700 households per year, RWE said.
Schönau solar farm spans an area of approximately 20 hectares and has a peak capacity of 20MW.
The bifacial modules utilise light reflected by the ground as well as sunlight hitting the modules directly, which increases their efficiency.
Katja Wünschel, chief executive for RWE Renewables Europe & Australia said: “With the Schönau photovoltaic plant we have implemented our first solar project in Saxony.
“This is an important milestone for RWE and the region itself.
“We are paying 0.2 cents to the municipality for each kilowatt hour produced.
“This amounts to an additional income of up to 42,000 euros per year.
“In addition, the citizens of the town will benefit directly from the energy transition in their region via a savings bond.”
Sheep from a local shepherd will graze between the modules, and the meadows will grow without artificial fertilisers or plant protectants.
Biotopes for skylarks and meadow pipits will be created, and heaps of deadwood and stones will provide shelter for sand lizards.
In connection with the Schönau solar farm, Deutsche Kreditbank AG (DKB) has offered an exclusive savings option to the citizens of Weidenfels.
More than 50 interested parties have applied for the DKB citizens savings bond, according to RWE.