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Thuringia's largest solar park is being built in Posterstein: 80,000 modules and 49 megawatt peak (MWP) for the regional energy transition

Published on: March 30, 2025 / update from: March 30, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Thuringia's largest solar park is being built in Posterstein: 80,000 modules and 49 megawatt peak (MWP) for the regional energy transition - symbol image: Xpert.digital

Future energy in Thuringia: starting shot for 49-megawatt-solar park

Solar park in Thuringia: Previous for Green Regional Development

On March 11, 2025, the official groundbreaking ceremony for the largest solar park in Thuringia was set in Posterstein in Altenburger Land. The ambitious project with an area of around 45 hectares and a planned performance of 49 megawatt peak marks an important step in the regional energy transition and promises both ecological and economic advantages for the community and the entire region.

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The project at an overview: dimensions and schedule

With its enormous size from around 45 to 50 hectares along the A4 motorway, the planned solar park in Posterstein represents a flagship project for solar energy in Thuringia. A total of 80,000 modules are to be installed, which can create a total output of 49 megawatt peak (MWP). According to the project managers, the system will produce more than 50 million kilowatt hours of environmentally friendly electricity annually, which is sufficient to supply around 14,000 four-person households.

The construction work has already started and the first posts have already been rammed. According to Nicolai Schlegel, the responsible project manager at Greenovative, the construction should be completed by September 2025. The network connection and commissioning are also planned for this year, so that the system is expected to feed the public network from the end of 2025. The official complete commissioning is expected in early 2026.

The partners behind the major project

The photovoltaic company Greenovative from Nuremberg is the main actor in the implementation of this major project. As Markus Buortesch, one of the three managing directors of Greenovative, announced, the company leases the space for the next 30 years from the Thonhausen agricultural cooperative. For the company, the Posterstein solar park represents the largest solar park in company history and a special milestone.

The Thonhausen agricultural cooperative, represented by its CEO Uwe Rößler, is not only the lessor of the areas, but also a co -partner at the operating company of the solar park. The cooperative, which already has experience with renewable energies (three biogas plants, a small wind turbine and four PV systems on roofs), dealt for the first time with the project of a large solar park over three years ago. For the agricultural cooperative, which manages almost 2,000 hectares of arable land and 150 hectares of grassland and milking 420 cows, the energy sector now represents about a quarter of the turnover.

Economic and ecological importance of the project

Financial advantages for the municipality of Posterstein

The new solar park brings significant economic advantages for the municipality of Posterstein. Mayor Stefan Jakubek (independent) said that 0.2 cents will flow to the municipal treasury per kilowatt hour generated. With the forecast annual electricity generation of around 50 million kilowatt hours, this results in annual income of around 100,000 euros for the municipality. In addition, there are trade tax revenue, which also benefit the municipality.

Ecological effects and CO2 savings

From an ecological point of view, the solar park contributes significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. After completion, the current production of the system saves over 21,000 tons of climate -damaging CO2 annually. This corresponds to a significant contribution to climate protection in the region.

The approach to promote biodiversity on the site should also be emphasized. A wild hedge has already been planted along the future solar park, and domestic wildflowers are sown under the solar modules. These measures should promote biodiversity in the solar park and thus make a positive contribution to the local ecosystem.

Synergy between agriculture and energy generation

A special aspect of the project is the successful connection between agriculture and energy generation. The areas are rededicated by the Thonhausen agricultural cooperative for a certain period of time for energy generation, but are not permanently lost to agriculture. Uwe Rößler, CEO of the agricultural cooperative, cannot gain anything to the discussion about withdrawal of space for food production. He argues that there is no food shortage in Europe and that you also need energy that can efficiently produce PV modules on the area.

In addition, the soil benefits from the ground rest as a solar park during use, and the domestic flora and fauna wins through the flower meadow laid out under the modules. This concept shows that renewable energies and agriculture do not have to contradict, but can complement yourself sensibly.

Technical challenges and framework conditions

The implementation of such a large project naturally brings with it some challenges. Markus Buortesch mentioned that there were “one or the other hurdle”, which could be mastered together. In this context, District Administrator Uwe Melzer emphasized the importance of taking enough time in advance to carefully weigh up all interests.

A technical advantage of the Posterstein location is the relatively low distance from the feed point of only 2.5 kilometers. Nevertheless, the project, like many other German PV projects, is waiting for a positive approval of the solar package I by the EU Commission. The outgoing federal government plans to more than double the EEG-funded amount of electricity per project. The funding has already been secured for 20 MWP in Posterstein, but for the other 30 MWP it is hoped that they will also be under the funding. If the approval does not take place, a customer would have to be found for this part of the energy generated.

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The importance for the regional energy transition

The Posterstein solar park represents an important milestone for the energy transition in Thuringia. As the largest solar park in the federal state, it sets a sign of the future energy supply of the region and shows how rural communities can benefit from the energy transition.

Mayor Jakubek described the groundbreaking ceremony as the “historical day for the community”. The municipality of Posterstein thus plays a pioneering role in relation to independent and clean energy generation. After commissioning, an opening ceremony is planned on a small scale in order to inform the local population about the park of the park and to celebrate the next step towards a successful energy transition.

A PV lighthouse project for the region

The Posterstein solar park combines economic, ecological and energy -political aspects in an exemplary manner. With an investment of around 30 million euros, a project is created here that will not only deliver renewable energy for thousands of households, but also gives the municipality substantial income, creates jobs and makes an important contribution to climate protection.

The successful cooperation between the projector Greenovative, the Thonhausen Agricultural Cooperative and the municipality of Posterstein can serve as a model for similar projects in the region and beyond. The groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new era for posterstein - as the location of one of the most important renewable energy projects in Thuringia.

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