At the location of the Inden open-cast lignite mine, RWE operates a utility-scale photovoltaic plant with an integrated storage system. At peak output, the solar modules are designed to provide 14.4 megawatts of electricity. The facility at the future mine lake, known as “RWE indeland Solar Farm”, is the first of its kind for RWE in Europe, bringing together about 26,500 solar modules and a battery storage system.
The solar modules were set up in two rows, each about 1.4 kilometres long and about 100 metres wide, on a gravel surface on the western edge of the open-cast mine. When mining operations conclude at the end of 2029, the area will become lakeside banks and shoreline. However, it will take two decades before water reaches this area – paving the way for the delivery of this innovative large scale solar farm with battery storage.
Status: In operation
