Published on: March 28, 2025 / update from: March 28, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Current developments in the solar park expansion in Hessen-including the Mega Solar Park project in Büttelborn-creative image: Xpert.digital
Hessen drives the expansion of solar energy with a record pace
Photovoltaics in Hesse doubles expansion: What is behind it?
The expansion of photovoltaics in Hesse is progressing at impressive speed. At the end of 2023, the state had 3,728.5 megawatts installed PV performance spread over 240,146 systems. With 680 MW of newly installed capacity in 2023 - almost twice as much as in the previous year - the solar energy is developing into the Hessian energy transition. This report illuminates some of the most important current developments and challenges in the field of solar energy in Hesse.
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Büttelborn: Pioneering Mega Solar Park project decided
The municipal council in Büttelborn (Groß-Gerau district) unanimously decided to build an ambitious solar park. The project stands out due to its impressive dimensions: A photovoltaic system with an output of 70 megawatt peak is to be created on an area of 48 hectares in the Worfelden district. This size makes the park one of the most important in southern Hesse.
The system is designed in such a way that it can deliver sufficient electricity for all around 23,300 households as well as all buildings and facilities of the municipal administration. In fact, even one and a half times the amount of electricity required for all of Büttelborn is generated, as Mayor Marcus Merkel (SPD) emphasizes. This overproduction enables the municipality to feed excess electricity into the regional network.
The technical implementation stipulates that a six-kilometer-long earth line to Darmstadt-Arheilgen is laid in order to connect the solar park to the electricity network. After the approval of the Darmstadt regional council in December 2023, the municipality is now planning to quickly create building law. The goal is ambitious: As early as early or mid -2026, the photovoltaic park should feed the first kilowatt hours of electricity into the network - according to Mayor Merkel, this would be “record time”.
Citizen participation as a key element
A central element of the Büttelborn project is the planned citizen participation. The local population is integrated by a citizens' energy cooperative that should enable citizens to benefit financially from the solar park and to meet their own electricity requirements. The energy cooperative Starkenburg eG takes on the key role in local citizen participation.
This form of the participatory energy transition is intended to increase the acceptance of the project among the population and at the same time maximize the local consumption of the electricity generated on site. Mayor Merkel underlines: "The goal is that as much of the locally generated solar power is used as possible on site".
Ecological and economic importance
With an annual production of around 70 million kilowatt hours of electricity, the Büttelborn solar park becomes an important component of the regional energy transition. The system will contribute to the annual reduction of CO2 emissions of around 35,000 tons and Büttelborn will thus significantly advance on the way to climate neutrality. This savings corresponds to the annual CO2 emissions of more than 20,000 average cars.
Due to the almost climate -neutral power supply, Büttelborn positions itself as a pioneer in the municipal energy transition in South Hesse. The project illustrates how municipalities not only assume ecological responsibility through strategic investments in renewable energies, but can also secure long -term predictable and stable energy costs for their household.
Energy cooperative Schwalm-Knüll: Successful citizen participation in solar projects
The Schwalm-Knüll Energy cooperative has established itself as an important player for the energy transition in North Hesse since its foundation in 2011. With around 500 members, she relies on the principle of local added value through renewable energies. A success example is the Solarpark Mundepot Allendorf, which has been feeding the solar power into the public network since March 2024.
Mundepot Allendorf: Modern solar concept with biodiversity
The Solarpark Mundepot Allendorf has a total output of 2,154 kWp, which produces sufficient electricity for calculated 600 households. The system saves around 1,035 tons of CO2 annually and thus contributes significantly to climate protection in the region. The integrated biodiversity concept is remarkable: the area is grazed by a shepherd with 25 sheep, which supports the ecological upgrading of the area.
The choice of location on a former special area - the former ammunition depot - shows how sensible the conversion of pre -loaded areas for solar parks can be. "You have to put together your heads and discuss what is possible," explains Horst Kaisinger, board member of the Schwalm-Knüll energy cooperative. The cooperation with the city of Schwalmstadt as area owner enabled the implementation of the solar park, taking into account biodiversity standards.
Local added value through energy cooperatives
The Schwalm Knüll energy cooperative has achieved around seven million euros in direct added value in the region in the past ten years. These economic advantages are realized on site by payments of dividends, interest, leases and trade taxes. This model shows how renewable energies are not only ecologically sensible, but can also contribute economically to strengthen rural spaces.
The cooperative is already planning further projects, including a cooperation with the city of Schwarzenborn and the municipal works AG from Kassel for the construction of an energy park with wind turbines and possibly another photovoltaic open-air area.
Security risks for solar parks: Theft in Malsfeld
In addition to the positive developments, there are also challenges in securing solar parks. A current example is the theft of copper cables from a solar park in Malsfeld-osteim (Schwalm-Eder-Kreis).
In the night from November 11th to November 12th, 2024, unknown perpetrators violently gained access to a solar park on Rotdornstrasse in Malsfeld-osteim. They cut through almost 1000 meters of built -in copper cables with an estimated total value of EUR 40,000. The property damage caused by the violent separation of the cables could initially not be quantified. The advertisement was reimbursed on November 22, 2024 at the Melsungen police station.
This incident is not alone: In a similar case, unknown persons stolen copper cables and inverter with a total value of around 50,000 euros in a similar case in December 2024. The perpetrators crossed the fence, separated several hundred meters of power cables and dismantled some inverters.
These incidents make it clear that the security of solar parks is an increasing problem. The valuable materials and components make the systems attractive destinations for thefts. Operators should therefore increasingly invest in security measures such as surveillance systems, improved fencing and regular checks to protect their systems.
Opel's “Green Campus”: Business location with sustainable energy supply
The automotive group Stellantis, which also includes the Opel brand, is driving an ambitious future project at the Rüsselsheim location: the “Green Campus”. This is intended to serve as the heart of the future Stellantis Germany and global Opel headquarters and consistently rely on sustainability.
Comprehensive use of solar energy
A central element of the “Green Campus” is the planned photovoltaic system with around 7,000 panels that are to be installed on the roofs. These are intended to cover the entire electricity requirement of the office buildings. With this regenerative energy generation, the complex of the balance sheet should be operated in a climate -neutral manner without the use of fossil fuels.
The project is part of a larger initiative: Stellantis and Prosolia Energy have concluded an agreement on the development, construction, operation and maintenance of a total of eight new photovoltaic systems in Germany and France. In Germany, three of the photovoltaic projects are to be built-at the Stellantis works in Kaiserlautern, Rüsselsheim and Bochum-with a common performance of ten megawatts.
Holistic sustainability concept
The “Green Campus” goes beyond pure solar energy use and includes further sustainability components. Building climatization takes place through efficient heat pump technology; The watering of the green areas is carried out with rainwater to reduce water consumption. The greening of components also contributes to increasing biodiversity.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the “Green Campus” is still planned for this year. The project underlines the company's commitment to Opel as a German brand and is intended to make a significant contribution to the goal of Stellantis to become CO2-neutral by 2038.
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Photovoltaic expansion in Hesse: trends and political framework conditions
The expansion of photovoltaics in Hesse experiences a remarkable upswing. In 2023, photovoltaic systems with a total output of 680 megawatts were installed, a significant increase compared to the 398 MW of the previous year. The preliminary expansion for the first half of 2024 indicate a renewed record addition for 2024 (358 MW).
Political framework and funding measures
The Hessian state government has taken various measures to promote the expansion of solar energy. The Hessian state parliament passed the amendment to the energy law on November 16, 2022, which, among other things, provides for a photovoltaic system to be built in new parking spaces with more than 50 parking spaces and state -owned buildings.
An important instrument for promoting open space solar systems is the newly placed solar cadastre Hessen, which was supplemented by open spaces. With just a few clicks, it enables the calculation of the solar energy potential, for example on your own roof, and has been rated as the most successful free information and planning offer of this kind with over 330,000 users since the end of 2016.
On May 15, 2024, new regulations are valid for the designation of solar areas after the Federal Government's solar package came into force. Accordingly, the agricultural areas all over Germany are open for the promotion of PV open space systems according to the EEG. In Hesse, around 530,000 hectares of agricultural areas are therefore considered disadvantaged, which corresponds to about 60% of the state and grassland in the state.
The focus: Biodiversity instead of monoculture
Despite the boom in solar energy, there are also challenges and controversy, especially with open space systems. The construction of solar parks on agricultural areas is discussed controversially. Critical voices among the farmers and environmental associations warn of an irretrievable loss of agricultural areas. The Federation for Environmental and Nature Conservation (BUND) Brandenburg, for example, demands arable land primarily for food and feed production.
In order to address these concerns, the Nature Conservation Association of Germany (NABU) and the Federal Association of Solar Economics (BSW) have jointly developed criteria for nature-friendly photovoltaic open space systems. These stipulate that PV open space systems can enable a combination of nature and climate protection by extensing land use. A significant improvement in biodiversity can be achieved in particular when the areas were previously managed conventionally.
The future of solar energy in Hesse
The projects and developments presented show that Hessen is on the right track to promote the energy transition through the massive expansion of the solar energy. With a share of 28.1 percent in gross electricity consumption, renewable energies play an increasingly important role in Hessian energy supply.
The success of the energy transition depends not only on technical and economic factors, but also on social acceptance. The examples presented show that citizen participation by energy cooperatives can be a key element for the successful implementation of solar projects. At the same time, security aspects must be taken into account more in order to protect systems from theft and vandalism.
The integration of biodiversity concepts and the careful selection of suitable locations - preferably preloaded areas or less valuable areas - can help to minimize conflicts between energy generation, agriculture and nature conservation. With this balanced approach, Hessen can make his contribution to the national energy transition and at the same time promote local added value and environmental protection.
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