RWE Begins Construction Of The Manheimer Bucht Solar Park Inside Hambach Mine To Boost Renewable Power In Rhein-Erft

RWE has started building a large solar power project in the Rhein-Erft district, marking another important step in the company’s renewable energy expansion. The new solar facility, called the Manheimer Bucht solar park, is located within the Hambach opencast mine area in the municipality of Kolpingstadt Kerpen.

The project involves the installation of 25,300 solar panels across a space roughly equal to 20 football fields. Work on the substructure and some of the panels is already underway.By the end of this year, the solar farm is expected to be completed with a total output of 16.5 megawatts peak (14.8 MWac). Once operational, it will be capable of generating enough renewable electricity to power around 5,000 households each year.

The site will eventually form the southern edge of the future lake planned at the Hambach mine. Since it will take decades for the water level to reach this area, RWE is using the available land to accelerate the growth of renewable energy production.Alongside the solar park, RWE is also preparing to add a battery storage system at the same location.

Construction of this storage facility is scheduled to begin in the summer. Designed with a capacity of 80 megawatt-hours, it is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2026. The battery will help improve grid reliability by storing excess energy and releasing it when needed.According to Sopna Sury, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, the project reflects RWE’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the region’s energy transition.

She explained that the company already manages nine large solar parks in the Rhenish region and continues to invest in new technologies such as battery storage to make renewable power more flexible. She also emphasized the importance of community involvement and noted that RWE is working closely with NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH on the renewable developments within the Hambach mine area.

Lars Kulik, RWE Power board member responsible for the lignite division, highlighted that the opencast mines are being transformed into lakes as part of long-term redevelopment plans. He added that using the future lake areas for renewable energy projects ensures that the region remains a strong energy hub and provides new opportunities for both the workforce and surrounding communities.

At present, one battery storage system and three solar farms with a combined capacity of 61 megawatts peak are already in operation at the Hambach opencast mine. RWE manages these facilities together with NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH, an organization representing the nearby municipalities of Elsdorf, Jülich, Kerpen, Merzenich, Niederzier, and Titz. Through this cooperation, these municipalities also have the option to take part in the development of the Manheimer Bucht project.