RWE has secured the rights in Germany’s innovation tender to build a solar farm combined with energy storage on the western edge of the Tagebau Inden open-cast mine.
The company will now call for quotes for the different components of the planned plant and apply to the Kreis Duren district authority for a building permit.
If all goes to plan, construction of the PV hybrid Inden project should start in October, with first power in June 2022.
RWE said the solar modules will be designed to have a peak availability of 14.4MW connected to a battery storage system designed for a two-hour electricity input and output of a total of 9.6 megawatt-hours.
RWE Renewables chief operating officer onshore wind Onshore and solar Europe and APAC Katja Wunschel said: “With the combination of photovoltaics and storage technology in one commercial system, we are setting a key milestone as a plant operator in Germany and are gaining valuable experience for the expansion of renewable energies.
“The future belongs to hybrid technologies, also in the area of renewables.
“Those who take the initiative here and are successful will play a part in making the energy transition a success.”
RWE Power executive board member with responsibility for lignite at open-cast mine operator Lars Kulik said: “It absolutely makes sense to use temporarily dormant former mining surfaces for solar plants.
“Our recultivation project offers plenty of space for renewables – to ensure that the region remains an energy producer in the future and the structural transformation is successful.”
RWE was also successful with a 2.4MW PV project in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany’s recent solar tender.