On 20 March, Gehrlicher Solar AG started construction of the Neustadt-Bahn solar park. The location of this construction poses a particular challenge as it is situated in a water protection area. After extensive surveying and elaborate, detailed planning carried out by Gehrlicher Solar AG, one of the first solar parks was approved in an area of this kind in Bavaria and thus the implementation can now quickly proceed.

Due to the extraordinary properties and conditions of the territory, driving at a sufficient depth cannot be effected in subareas and for this reason Gehrlicher Solar has designed a special substructure. This includes custom-built posts and concrete rings on which the substructure GehrTec® Base that was developed in-house is then installed. Furthermore, 27 720 Sunowe solar modules as well as six inverters, made by SMA, are used which will convert the solar electricity into a grid-compatible alternating current.

The solar power system with a nominal capacity of 5.3MWp runs along the railway line from Coburg to Ernstthal am Rennsteig and is predicted to produce approximately 5.25 million kilowatt hours every year. This covers the demand of over 1,500 three-person households and compared with electricity generation from fossil fuels, it annually saves 4,725 tons of CO2 from being emitted.

"The realization of this project is particularly close to our hearts as one of our offices is situated only a stone's throw away", points out Klaus Gehrlicher, CEO of Gehrlicher Solar AG. "As Gehrlicher Solar AG's vision is to ensure sustainable energy supply exclusively from renewable energies, we wanted to start right on our doorstep and we put extensive and in-depth thought into and focus on the sensitive subject of the water protection area."

The solar park will be developed on an overall approx. 11 hectare big area, on which various so-called compensatory measures will be implemented on just under 3 hectares. Thus the ground-mounted system is exemplary for the sensible and environmentally friendly use of the water protection area which was formerly used for agricultural purposes. Commissioning of the solar park is planned for 30 April.