RWE Breaks Ground on 13.9 MW Photovoltaic Plant at Hambach with Over 22,000 Solar Modules

RWE Breaks Ground on 13.9 MW Photovoltaic Plant at Hambach with Over 22,000 Solar Modules

(IN BRIEF) RWE has initiated construction of a new photovoltaic plant near Niederzier in North Rhine-Westphalia at the Hambach opencast mine. Covering 12 hectares, the plant will feature over 22,000 solar modules and generate up to 13.9 MW peak (12 MW ac) of green electricity, enough to power about 4,500 households. Commissioning is planned for September. The project, situated above the future shore of Hambach Lake, reinforces RWE’s growing renewable energy footprint in the Rhenish mining area—a region where the company, alongside NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH, already operates two solar facilities with a combined capacity of 47.2 MW peak and integrated battery storage for 8 MWh. Local leaders, such as Mayor Frank Rombey of Niederzier, and company executives, including CEO Katja Wünschel and CTO Dr Lars Kulik, highlighted the dual benefits of economic development and energy resilience. They pointed to the significance of local partnerships and strategic investments in renewable technology as fundamental to the region’s transition from a mining-based economy to a sustainable future. Additionally, RWE’s broad renewable strategy in the area, which includes multiple wind farms and other solar projects, aims to further bolster regional energy security and economic prosperity.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESSEN, 13-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — RWE has broken ground on a new photovoltaic plant near the municipality of Niederzier in North Rhine-Westphalia, marking another milestone in its renewable energy expansion at the Hambach opencast mine. Construction has started on a facility that will eventually host over 22,000 solar modules spread across 12 hectares along the western edge of the mine, just above where Hambach Lake is planned to form. With a capacity of 13.9 megawatts peak (12 MW ac), the plant is expected to deliver green electricity enough to power approximately 4,500 households once it is commissioned in September.

Local officials and RWE executives underscored the significance of the project. Frank Rombey, Mayor of Niederzier, stated, “The expansion of renewables is one of the pillars of structural change for our municipality. It is vital to invest in the region’s economic development, especially as we transition into the post-mining era.” Katja Wünschel, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, added that the new plant is a clear sign of progress in the Rhenish mining area. “Our collaboration with NEULAND HAMBACH is an excellent example of how regional partnerships can drive both renewable energy production and local revenue,” she noted.

This project is part of a broader strategy in the region. RWE, in collaboration with NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH—which represents the interests of the six adjacent municipalities including Elsdorf, Jülich, Kerpen, Merzenich, Niederzier, and Titz—already operates two solar plants (one with integrated battery storage) at the Hambach site. These existing facilities have a combined capacity of 47.2 MW peak, supplying the equivalent of around 14,500 households. The battery storage system, with an 8 MWh capacity, enhances grid stability by better aligning power feed-in with demand.

Andreas Heller, Chair of the Supervisory Board of NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH and Mayor of Elsdorf, commented, “This new 14 MW addition to our existing 47.2 MW capacity in the RWE Neuland Solar Farm is a vital step. We aim to secure a stake in this project as part of our broader strategy to create revenue-generating renewable energy assets in and around the Hambach opencast mine.”

Dr Lars Kulik, CTO Lignite at RWE Power, emphasized the dual benefits of the solar installations. “Our solar farms make efficient use of the land during the interim before Hambach Lake fully develops, and they also create new opportunities for our employees to apply their expertise in building and operating renewable energy assets,” he explained.

This latest investment is one among several renewable energy initiatives by RWE in the Rhenish mining area. The company currently runs eight onshore wind farms and seven photovoltaic plants—four with integrated battery storage—in the region, with additional projects in both wind and solar under construction or in the planning stages.

RWE
RWE is leading the way to a clean energy world. With its investment and growth strategy Growing Green, RWE is contributing significantly to the success of the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the energy system. Around 20,000 employees work for the company in almost 30 countries worldwide. RWE is already one of the leading companies in the field of renewable energy. RWE is investing billions of euros in expanding its generation portfolio, in particular in offshore and onshore wind, solar energy and batteries. It is perfectly complemented by its global energy trading business. RWE is decarbonising its business in line with the 1.5- degree reduction pathway and will phase out coal by 2030. RWE will be net zero by 2040. Fully in line with the company’s purpose –
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Media Contact:

Sarah Knauber
RWE Renewables Europe & Australia GmbH
Media Relations
T +49 (0) 201 5179 5404
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SOURCE: RWE