Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 19, RWE, a leading energy company, has won contracts for two new solar projects in North Rhine-Westphalia through the latest German Federal Network Agency solar tender. The Manheimer Bucht solar farm in the Rhein-Erft district will generate 17.2 megawatts, while an extension of the photovoltaic project along the A44n motorway will add 19.9 megawatts. Together, these projects will produce enough electricity to power approximately 11,300 households.

Construction is set to begin in the first half of 2026, pending permits, with commissioning expected by the end of the year. Katja Wunschel, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, stated: “These projects reflect our ongoing commitment to the energy transition in the Rhenish region, and we are keeping up the pace with the expansion of our solar portfolio. We are already operating seven major solar farms in the region, some in combination with battery storage systems. For the two new solar farms we are also examining whether it will be possible to put battery systems in place.”

The Manheimer Bucht project, located in the southern part of the Hambach mine in Kerpen, will feature 26,500 solar modules across 14.5 hectares, equivalent to 20 football fields. The A44n motorway extension, situated on recultivated land at the Garzweiler mine between Bedburg and Juchen, will include over 30,600 modules. RWE is also constructing solar farms totaling 86.5 megawatts along the A44n, expected to begin operations later this year.

In the Rhenish region, RWE currently operates seven solar farms, four of which integrate battery storage systems. In April, the company started building a new solar plant near Niederzier with 22,000 modules, set to supply 4,500 households upon completion in the coming weeks. The addition of battery storage for the new projects is under consideration to enhance energy reliability.

These initiatives strengthen RWE’s commitment to expanding renewable energy in North Rhine-Westphalia, supporting sustainable development and contributing to the region’s energy transition goals. The projects will bolster local energy supply and promote economic growth through advanced solar infrastructure.