RWE has kicked off construction of a new photovoltaic plant near the municipality of Niederzier in the Düren district of North Rhine-Westphalia. The project will see 22,000 solar panels installed across 12 hectares at the western edge of the Hambach opencast mine, positioned above the future shoreline of the planned Hambach Lake. Commissioning is scheduled for September.
Once operational, the 13.9 megawatt-peak (12 MW AC) solar plant will generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 4,500 households.
This marks the third major solar facility in the Hambach area. Two existing plants, one of which includes integrated battery storage, already produce up to 47.2 MW peak—supplying clean electricity to about 14,500 homes. The battery system, with 8 MWh capacity, helps align energy output more closely with demand.
RWE operates these facilities in partnership with NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH, which represents six neighboring municipalities: Elsdorf, Jülich, Kerpen, Merzenich, Niederzier, and Titz. These communities will also have the opportunity to invest in the new Niederzier solar plant after its completion. Frank Rombey, Mayor of Niederzier said “For the municipality of Niederzier, the expansion of renewables is one of the pillars of structural change. It is important to invest in the economic development of the region right at our doorstep for the post-mining era.”
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia added, “The start of construction for our new solar plant near Niederzier shows that the expansion of renewables in the Rhenish mining area is making good progress. It is important to us to get the people in the region on board – for example by involving the neighbouring municipalities. Our collaboration with the NEULAND HAMBACH organisation is a case in point. The region benefits in two ways: Solar plants supply green electricity and generate revenue.”
