Germany is taking a significant step towards renewable energy with the installation of solar systems [1] along motorways near the Garzweiler open-pit lignite mine in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Garzweiler open pit mine has been operational for over a century and is expected to continue functioning until 2045. However, the mine’s future land use and reclamation are now in focus. The Landfolge Garzweiler association, an inter-municipal organization (Zweckverband) in charge of the mine’s rehabilitation and repurposing, proposes renewable energy projects to replace lignite. Despite this, Germany often faces substantial public resistance against green energy projects.
“Action groups protest against wind farms or the construction of power lines, and in many areas, a battle is raging over the future use of the land,” said Volker Mielchen, managing director of Landfolge Garzweiler. To optimize solar energy use, rooftops, and green spaces need to be utilized. To gain public acceptance, the association has proposed an innovative solution—installing solar systems along motorways near the Garzweiler open pit lignite mine.
The project, led by the consulting firm Drees & Sommer SE, involves the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels along a section of the Autobahn close to the Garzweiler mine. The feasibility study conducted by Drees & Sommer SE highlights the potential of solar motorways to generate significant amounts of renewable energy.
The infrastructure could provide an additional 300 GW of solar energy. By comparison, Germany had installed rooftop and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of 81.5 GW by April 2024, according to the company. The project is expected to supply electricity to thousands of homes, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to Germany’s climate goals.
The solar systems are designed to serve dual purposes: generating electricity and acting as noise and wind barriers. The plans include installing panels on embankments along the A44n highway and sound barriers on the A46 highway.
Alexander Vorkoeper, senior consultant at Drees & Sommer, said, “Our research has demonstrated the great potential of solar motorways for the development of sustainable infrastructure.” This approach not only maximizes the use of available space but also addresses public concerns about the visual impact of renewable energy installations.
Volker Mielchen, managing director of Landfolge Garzweiler, emphasized the importance of integrating renewable energy into existing infrastructure: “By combining transport infrastructure with electricity generation, we can create synergies that benefit both energy production and environmental protection.”
Despite the many challenges, Drees & Sommer SE believes that this pilot project could one day be applied nationally.
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Pilot project in Germany: Solar systems along motorways
Pilot project in Germany: Solar systems along motorways