EnBW celebrates its first large-scale solar farm in Leibertingen

Stuttgart. In the presence of numerous guests, EnBW Erneuerbare Energien GmbH officially opened its first large-scale solar farm in Leibertingen (Sigmaringen District). With an output of 2.1 megawatts, the seven-hectare solar farm generates around 2.1 million kilowatt hours every year. It will supply around 600 households and save 1,240 tonnes of CO2.

Environment and Transport Minister Tanja Gönner praised the commitment by EnBW to invest in this solar plant. "This solar farm has become a flagship project for the region with regard to the expansion of renewable energies." Above all, involving the local people by founding a citizen's energy cooperative sets a good example, explained Minister Gönner. Building the plant on parts of a former landfill site will also guarantee that natural areas are protected. "It complies with our guideline of primarily generating solar power on land already used for another purpose in order to avoid conflicts of interest, such as with nature conservation and agriculture." With more than installed output of 1,500 megawatts, solar power's contribution to the total electricity generation in Baden-Württemberg is around 1.5 percent.

In his speech, Dr. Hans-Josef Zimmer, Chief Technology Officer of EnBW, stressed that: "The solar farm in Leibertingen is particularly important for EnBW: As EnBW's first large-scale solar park, it marks the starting point of our commitment to photovoltaics, and other projects are now already following. Alongside our focus on hydropower and wind energy, photovoltaics therefore represent another pillar in the expansion of renewable energies in the EnBW energy mix."

"The climate and environmental protection have been on the agenda in the Sigmaringen District for many years - the Leibertingen solar farm is another important factor here," explains Dirk Gaerte, Head of the Sigmaringen District Authority in his welcoming address.

"Our District consciously selected EnBW as a reliable partner," explains Armin Reitze, Mayor of Leibertingen. "We are pleased that the project was implemented smoothly and that the people are able to invest in the solar farm by buying shares in the cooperative."

With the investment offer from EnBW for the solar farm, the people of the Leibertingen District are given the opportunity to invest locally in generation from renewable energies. The Leibertingen Citizens' Cooperative has concluded an investment loan agreement with EnBW Erneuerbare Energien GmbH for this.

The aim of EnBW is to increase the proportion of renewable energies in its energy mix to around 20 percent by 2020. Apart from expanding onshore and offshore wind energy, alongside its traditionally high commitment to hydropower, EnBW is also using other mature technologies such as solar energy, biomass and biogas.

EnBW will increase the installed output from photovoltaics to a total of around ten megawatts with the Leibertingen solar farm and the solar farm under construction in Ulm-Eggingen.