Language selection 📢

Saxony: Solar park on the fallow company of the Reichenbach railway operations in the Vogtland planned

Published on: April 9, 2025 / update from: April 9, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Saxony: Solar park on the fallow company of the Reichenbach railway operations in the Vogtland planned - creative image: Xpert.digital

Solarpark Reichenbach in the Vogtland planned - from industrial area to the eco -project project

Solar park instead of standstill: New life for the Reichenbach railway depot

After years of wasting the former railway depot in Reichenbach in the Vogtland, there are now concrete plans for a new use of the area as a solar park. This project is part of a growing number of photovoltaic projects in Saxony, but, like other projects of this kind, meets different reactions. Chargus GmbH intends to acquire the site and to build on a photovoltaic system. The city administration has already had discussions on the approval of the project, as can be seen from current information.

Suitable for:

Solarpark Transformation of former lignite areas in Saxony: Pödelwitz and Witznitz - Germany's largest solar park

Historical background and current state of the railway depot

The former railway depot in Reichenbach looks back on a long history. In November 1899, the foundation stone was laid for the railway depot, which was one of the third largest in the Reichsbahn directorate in Dresden in the 1930s. The legendary "Saxon Stolz" machines were stationed on the site, up to 16 locomotives in Reichenbach.

During the GDR period, over 1,000 employees were employed in the railway company, in the goods handling and in the Reichenbach train station. The railway depot played an important role for the locomotive change in intercoon train traffic via the Gutenfürst border station to Hof. In 1970 it was even raised to the large BW with its incorporated branch offices. After the fall of the wall, however, it was closed in 1999 and has been broke since then.

As early as 2008, there were plans by a Görlitz company to build a solar park on the site of the former railway depot. At that time, Deutsche Bahn sold the area in May 2008. However, these plans were apparently not implemented, and the area remained unused.

Current plans for the solar park

According to current information, Chargus GmbH would like to acquire the wasting area on Greizer Strasse and build on with a solar park. According to its own statements, the city administration has already had discussions on the approval of the project. Chargus GmbH is based in Reichenbach and works in the areas of other wholesale, IT, software development and retail.

Specific details on the planned performance or size of the solar park on the former railway depot are not visible from the available information. So far, information on the schedule for the implementation of the project has also been missing. However, the city administration has confirmed that discussions have already taken place, which indicates an advanced planning status.

Regional importance and comparison with other solar park projects in Saxony

The planned solar park in Reichenbach is in the context of an increased development of photovoltaic projects throughout Saxony. Particularly noteworthy is the recently completed “Energy Park Witznitz” south of Leipzig, which is considered Europe's largest solar park with an output of 650 megawatts and over 1.1 million solar modules. The project was realized on a 500 -hectare former mining area and has been on the net since the end of March 2024.

There is already experience with solar systems in Reichenbach itself. In 2019, a solar roof system with an output of 750 kWp was installed on a dairy cattle stable of the Reichenbach agricultural cooperative, which feeds electricity directly into the medium -voltage network. This was already the third project of the Vispiron project on properties of the agricultural cooperative after a roof system with 1000 kWp had already been built in 2016.

These developments show that in Saxony, large open space systems and solar projects are realized on roofs that contribute to regional energy supply. The planned solar park on the railway operating site would continue this trend.

Regional conflicts at solar parks: interest and area management in dispute

While some solar park projects are successfully implemented, others encounter resistance. The city of Reichenbach recently voted unanimously against a project of Boreas Energie GmbH, which wanted to build two solar parks along the railway line Görlitz - Dresden with a total output of a maximum of 38.25 megawatts. The city referred to the regional plan in Oberlausitz-Lower Silesia, in which the relevant areas are designated as a priority area for agriculture and sometimes as a cultural landscape.

Another example is a planned solar park at the nature reserve, which has caused concerns among residents. Such conflicts illustrate that various interests have to be weighed in the planning of solar parks, especially when it comes to red setting for areas.

In the case of the planned solar park on the former Reichenbach railway depot, however, the fact that it is an industrial wasteland could increase acceptance. The use of such conversion areas for renewable energies is often rated more positively than the use of agricultural areas.

Economic and ecological perspectives

The conversion of the fallow railway depot for a solar park could offer both economic and ecological advantages. Economically, a previously unused area of productive use would be generated that generates income and possibly also local jobs. Ecologically, a solar park on an industrial wasteland could contribute to the local energy transition without having to use agricultural areas or natural areas.

For comparison: The solar roof system in Reichenbach with 750 kWp output produces electricity for more than 220 households and saves about 385 tons of CO2 a year. Depending on the size, the planned solar park on the railway depot could make an even more important contribution to regional energy supply and climate protection.

Suitable for:

Efficient use of solar parking spaces and solar carports: Solar parking spaces as an innovative energy solution – Smart Parking Lot System

New ways for energy transition: use it sensibly with photovoltaics

The planned solar park on the fallow of the former railway depot in Reichenbach in the Vogtland represents a potentially sensible subsequent use of an industrial area that has been idle for decades. The company Chargus GmbH has expressed interest to acquire the site and build with a photovoltaic system, whereby discussions with the city administration have already taken place.

While details on performance, size and schedule are not yet known, the project fits into the context of an increasing development of solar energy in Saxony, which ranges from the smaller solar roof to the largest solar park in Europe. In view of the controversial discussions about other solar park projects, the use of an industrial wasteland for renewable energies could have greater acceptance than the rededication of agricultural areas.

The further development of the project remains observed, in particular with regard to the specific planning, possible participation procedures and the final decision on approval. In any case, it represents an interesting contribution to the discussion about the subsequent use of former industrial areas and the local energy transition.

Suitable for: