RWE Wins Contracts for Two Solar Projects in North Rhine-Westphalia

RWE has secured two projects in the latest solar tender issued by the German Federal Network Agency, both located in North Rhine-Westphalia. A utility-scale solar farm will be developed in the Manheimer Bucht in the Rhein-Erft district, while the photovoltaic project currently under construction along the A44n motorway will be expanded. Together, the new sites will generate enough renewable electricity to supply around 11,300 German households. Subject to permitting, construction is expected to begin in the first half of 2026, with commissioning planned by the end of that year.

RWE is already building solar plants with a combined capacity of 86.5 megawatts peak (74.6 MWac) along the A44n motorway between Bedburg and Jüchen, scheduled for completion later this year. The second extension phase, adding 19.9 megawatts peak (15.5 MWac), is planned for 2026 and will include more than 30,600 solar modules installed on recultivated land at the Garzweiler opencast mine in Jüchen.The Manheimer Bucht solar farm will be constructed in the southern area of the Hambach opencast mine, within the municipality of Kerpen. Covering approximately 14.5 hectares—equivalent to 20 football pitches—it will feature around 26,500 solar modules with a total capacity of 17.2 megawatts peak

Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “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.”