37 MWp photovoltaic plant commissioned on recultivated open-cast mine site in central Germany
On 27 September 2023, MIBRAG commissioned the Peres II solar plant built in the south of Leipzig on a recultivated open-cast mine site. The company is investing approximately 25 million euros in this facility, which provides an output of 37 MWp in order to supply MIBRAG sites with solar power. The plant was developed together with the sister company EP New Energies GmbH (EPNE).
"The commissioning of the Peres II solar park marks yet another significant step towards transforming the Central German mining region into a modern energy and industrial hub which is based on renewable energies and hydrogen production. We are pleased to be able to support our sister company MIBRAG with our expertise to expand its renewable energy portfolio," says Dominique Guillou, Managing Director of EPNE, commenting on the success story. "Together with MIBRAG, we have identified an expansion potential of roughly 1 GW of renewable energies and have already brought 250 MW into development." The solar power is intended to increase MIBRAG's own electricity supply in the short term and at the same time create a basis for the production of green hydrogen at the Profen site, which is planned for the medium term. The solar plant is expected to generate about 38,000 MWh per year and thus, in theory, supply more than 15,000 households with climate-neutral electricity.
On a 55-hectare area equivalent to the size of 77 football pitches, more than 66,000 solar modules produce energy that is fed into MIBRAG's own medium and high-voltage grid via ten transformer stations and a three-kilometre-long 30 kV line. Part of the technical project planning included large-scale mapping of flora and fauna in 2021. Considering this, the subsidiary MIBRAG-GALA-Service GmbH implemented a large number of compensation and replacement measures, resulting in the creation of 45 partially interconnected individual habitats for the protection of sand lizards and other insects. In addition, hedges were planted as compensation areas for breeding birds.
Your contact person for further information:
Margarita Schulz, EPNE
Team Lead Communications
Telefon: +49 30 767584572
E-Mail: margarita.schulz@epne.de
Sebastian Exner, MIBRAG
Head of Communication and Politics
Telefon: +49 3441 684339
E-Mail: presse@mibrag.de
Foto: Commissioning of the Peres West II photovoltaic plant. © MIBRAG
