80 MW solar park in Germany built cheaper than planned: at finalization, the park remained 10% below the calculated costs, thus having costs underruns instead of cost overruns

translation: The photovoltaic power plant in Langenenslingen, Baden-Württemberg, has been operating at the high-voltage grid since the end of May and feeds solar power. On Monday, Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) came to the opening ceremony. After all, it is by far the largest photovoltaic system in the advertising board. It was realised by the energy company EnBW.

“In just five years, we were able to bring this large-scale energy infrastructure project from the installation decision to the electricity feed-in – on schedule and below the forecast costs,” says EnBW CEO Georg Stamatelopoulos for the inauguration. The energy company calculated the costs for the project in the mid-double-digit million range. These were less than ten percent. “The basis for this was the strategic procurement of the components and the required services through purchasing, for example by bundling orders across projects,” EnBW announced. Close coordination with the general contractor and the rapid approval processes, such as the substation, would also have avoided costly delays.

According to EnBW, the construction phase of the solar park, in which 146.016 solar modules are installed, lasted more than a year. The energy company could do without state subsidies. The operation of the photovoltaic power plant is also to be carried outside the EEG. The municipality will then also benefit from the revenue. In addition to the industry tax, it also receives a local tax, as EnBW further explained. The amount depends on the amount of electricity fed in and the electricity market prices. EnBW assumes an amount in the lower six-figure range, which will flow annually to the municipality. People should also be able to participate in the photovoltaic system via a secondary loan.

In the course of the construction of the photovoltaic power plant, EnBW also undertook various compensation and replacement measures to protect and promote the local flora and fauna. Thus, the municipality was important for the preservation of the existing orchards. In addition, EnBW planted around 750 more shrubs and trees and docked 30 ponds.