RWE has officially commissioned its first photovoltaic plant in Saxony, Germany, with the opening of the Schönau solar farm in the town of Wildenfels, located in the Zwickau district. Spanning approximately 20 hectares, the solar farm is equipped with 36,000 solar modules, which collectively generate around 21 million kilowatt hours of green electricity annually. According to RWE, this output is sufficient to power approximately 6,700 households per year.
Katja Wünschel, Chief Executive for RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, highlighted the significance of the Schönau photovoltaic plant both for RWE and the region, stating, “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.” The farm operates at a peak capacity of 20MW, and the technology used includes bifacial solar modules, which increase efficiency by harnessing both direct sunlight and light reflected from the ground.
The project also brings financial benefits to the local community, with RWE agreeing to pay the municipality 0.2 cents per kilowatt hour produced, amounting to an additional income of up to 42,000 euros annually. Furthermore, local citizens will have the opportunity to benefit directly from the energy transition through a savings bond offered by Deutsche Kreditbank AG (DKB), with over 50 people already applying.
The farm's environmental commitment extends beyond energy production. Local shepherds will graze sheep between the solar modules, and the area will be maintained without artificial fertilizers or plant protectants. Additionally, biotopes will be created for skylarks and meadow pipits, while shelter for sand lizards will be provided through piles of deadwood and stones.
