BayWa r.e is building Germany's subsidy-free solar park, proving that solar energy can now compete against conventional energy sources in Germany without any financial subsidies. The project Barth V, some 30km east of Stralsund, has a total capacity of 8.8MW and construction will start at the beginning of June.
Benedikt Ortmann, Managing Director at BayWa r.e. Solar Projects GmbH, emphasises: "With our 175MW solar park Don Rodrigo, which we built in southern Spain at the end of last year, we have already shown that solar power can be generated today more cheaply than conventional power. While experiencing lower irradiation values, we have now proved subsidy-free is possible in Germany too. We are very proud to be ushering in a new and exciting era for renewable energy generation."
The electricity generated is to be supplied to an industrial partner via a long-term Power Purchase Agreement. Negotiations are currently underway with various interested parties. The in-house energy trading subsidiary BayWa r.e. Clean Energy Sourcing GmbH will be responsible for marketing the electricity. The project will be financed through long-term, non-recourse financing by an experienced German bank.
Matthias Taft, Member of the Board responsible for the energy business, BayWa AG, adds: "Although in some cases it is possible to build small and medium-sized self-consumption projects without subsidies in Germany, they will still be needed to support this segment of the market moving forward. In addition, subsidies for solar solutions for residential housing will also remain important as a means of encouraging the participation of broad sections of the population and to help facilitate the development of a decentralised, near-load supply."
The solar park will be erected on the site of the Baltic Sea airport Stralsund-Barth. Due to its rental income, the municipal airport is one of the few that can be operated economically and independently of public funds.