The PV plant is operated by public utility STAWAG Energie GmbH and stands on 40 hectares of a former uranium ore mine. Over 83,000 solar modules produce more than 19 million kWh of electricity annually, providing enough electricity for a small town like Ronneburg in East Germany, says juwi. In addition, the plant displaces 13,600 tons of carbon dioxide every year.

“Fortunately, the nuclear age is a thing of the past. The future belongs to renewable energies” said Matthias Machnig, Thuringia’s Minister for Trade and Industry as he inaugurated the solar park. “The decentralised expansion of renewable energies offers regions great economic potential und increases the local value chain.”

Herbert Muders, Managing Director of juwi Solar agreed: “Solar electricity is an essential element of a power?supply based on renewable energies.” He said Germany’s energy transition to 100% renewable energies “cannot be achieved without an increasing number of large PV free-field installations”.

Solar power “significantly and permanently” lowers the price of electricity at the stock exchange by replacing expansive conventional power plants and by producing electricity in peak hours. “Prospectively, PV will provide low-priced clean?electricity,” he said.

Dr Peter Asmuth, CEO of STAWAG, added that the utility has set up an ambitious programme for the further expansion of renewable energies worth €150mn a year.