Deutsche Bahn Signs Two Long-Term PPAs For 2.5 TWh Solar Power, Green Energy To Power ICE Trains 14 Million km Annually

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is further increasing its use of renewable energy through its subsidiary DB Energie, which has signed two long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Blue Elephant Energy GmbH (BEE) for a total of approximately 2.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar power. The electricity will be generated by two large solar parks in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, both expected to be operational by mid-2027. These projects will allow DB to power its ICE trains for roughly 14 million kilometers annually. With contract terms of up to 13 years, DB is supporting the realization of these major projects while contributing significantly to the climate-friendly energy supply of the German railway.

The two solar parks will produce more than 300 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually. The Schafhöfen solar park in Bavaria, with a capacity of 266 MWp, will become the second largest solar park in Germany, featuring approximately 370,000 solar modules spread over an area equivalent to more than 300 football fields. The park will include dedicated substation infrastructure and a planned battery storage system to ensure efficient grid connection. The Aulendorf solar park in Baden-Württemberg will have a capacity of 53 MWp, making it one of the largest solar parks in the state.

Florian Reuter, Managing Director of DB Energie GmbH, stated that the company aims to make rail travel in Germany increasingly climate-friendly. With about 15,000 train journeys daily on its electrified network, DB is one of Germany’s largest consumers of green electricity.

He emphasized that long-term green electricity contracts like these enable the construction of large solar parks, strengthen renewable energy expansion, and support DB’s goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2040. Combining solar power with battery storage will provide flexibility, security of supply, and economic viability while moving the railway closer to climate neutrality.

Felix Goedhart, founder and CEO of Blue Elephant Energy GmbH, highlighted the importance of DB Energie’s confidence in the projects. He noted that these agreements contribute to the reliable decarbonization of Germany’s energy supply and reinforce BEE’s role as a comprehensive partner in green electricity, including photovoltaics, wind power, and battery storage. Goedhart also praised the short three-year development timeline to construction readiness, attributing it to strong collaboration among all project stakeholders, including the local municipalities. Battery storage additions will further enhance supply security and flexibility in the electricity system.

Currently, Deutsche Bahn covers around 70 percent of its rail electricity needs with renewable energy, surpassing Germany’s public green electricity mix of approximately 59 percent. Since early 2025, all train stations, maintenance depots, office buildings, and other facilities supplied by DB Energy have been powered entirely by green electricity.

Passengers on DB long-distance trains in Germany have been traveling on 100 percent green electricity since 2018. DB’s green energy portfolio includes offshore wind farms such as Nordsee-Ost, He Dreiht, Trianel Borkum, and Amrumbank-West, as well as onshore wind farms and photovoltaic parks throughout Germany. Since last year, the portfolio has also included battery storage systems, with the first two set to begin operation in Walsum and Beckum next year.