Alsheim-Mettenheim solar park clears next hurdle in approval process – Creative image: Xpert.Digital
Milestone reached in the Alsheim solar park project: Public consultation begins
The municipal council gives the green light and public participation has begun: the future of the solar park is taking shape.
An important milestone has been reached in the planning process for the proposed Alsheim/Mettenheim solar park. On April 7, 2025, the Alsheim municipal council passed a resolution regarding early public participation pursuant to Section 3 Paragraph 1 of the German Federal Building Code (BauGB) in conjunction with Section 4 Paragraph 1 of the BauGB, thus initiating the public consultation phase for the project. This step marks a significant milestone in the approval process for the planned large-scale photovoltaic system, which is to be built between the municipalities of Alsheim and Mettenheim.
Current project development and public participation
Following the resolution to initiate the planning process, which was passed by the Alsheim municipal council on October 14, 2024, the procedure is now entering the public participation phase. The resolution to initiate the planning process was published on November 28, 2024, in the official gazette of the Eich municipality. Simultaneously, on November 11, 2024, the Eich municipal council resolved to initiate the procedure for a partial amendment to the land-use plan, which is to be changed from "Agricultural Area" to "Special Development Areas for Photovoltaics."
The public now has the opportunity to review the planning documents and submit comments. This early participation ensures that concerns and suggestions from citizens and public stakeholders can be incorporated into the further planning process.
Urban development contract signed
Another important step was the approval of the urban development contract with the project developer, wiwi consult GmbH & Co. KG from Mainz, by the Alsheim local council. This agreement regulates, among other things, the investor's assumption of the costs for the development planning and thus forms an essential basis for further project development.
Location and scope of the planned solar park
The solar park is planned to be built on a total area of approximately 39 hectares, with about 24 hectares in the Alsheim district and about 15 hectares in the Mettenheim district. The planned site is strategically located about 800 meters south of the Alsheim settlement, between the Mainz-Mannheim railway line to the west and the B9 federal highway to the east (about 600 meters east).
This location is particularly advantageous because the planning area lies entirely within the 500-meter corridor along railway lines that is eligible for funding under the 2023 Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). This aspect is crucial for the project's economic viability, as since January 2023, open-field solar installations along highways and railway lines are generally permissible under planning law, provided no overriding public interests are opposed.
Use of agricultural land
The majority of the planned area is currently used as farmland. The land is largely secured by the project developer through long-term lease agreements. Adjacent municipal land (agricultural roads) can be used for the development of the solar park.
Importance for climate protection and regional energy supply
The planned solar park is part of the climate protection efforts of the Eich municipality. Three wind turbines were already erected in the Alsheim district in 2013, and the municipality is continuously expanding photovoltaic systems on municipal rooftops, most recently on the daycare centers in Mettenheim and Hamm am Rhein.
The construction of the solar park represents an important contribution to achieving the energy policy objectives of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and supports efforts towards the energy transition. According to the amended Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) 2023, 215 gigawatts of installed photovoltaic capacity have been set as an interim target nationwide by 2030.
Comparison with other projects
For comparison: The largest solar park in Rhineland-Palatinate, recently commissioned in the southern Eifel region, comprises eleven sites covering an area equivalent to more than 300 football fields and can supply around 60,000 households with renewable electricity. The costs for this mega-project amount to approximately 150 million euros.
Further procedure and timeline
Following the current early public participation phase, a commissioned planning office will prepare the necessary documents and draft plans. The next procedural step will be the formal public display of the development plan.
The project's implementation is contingent on receiving compensation through the EEG tender, meaning that the project cannot yet be fully guaranteed. Nevertheless, the progress made so far demonstrates strong interest in its realization from both the local authorities and the investor.
Location as a success factor: Solar park planned along the railway line
With the decision to conduct early public participation, the Alsheim/Mettenheim solar park has cleared a significant hurdle in the approval process. Its strategically advantageous location along the railway line and the already secured lease agreements offer excellent conditions for the successful implementation of the project.
The planned solar park serves as an exemplary model of how the regional energy transition can be advanced and how agricultural land can be used in multiple ways. For the municipality of Eich and the participating villages of Alsheim and Mettenheim, the realization of the project would represent a significant step towards a sustainable and climate-friendly energy supply.
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