XL PV Freeland projects in Adelsheim, Eppingen and Hilzingen-Solar Parks in Baden-Württemberg

Published on: March 26, 2025 / update from: March 26, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

XL PV Freeland projects in Adelsheim, Eppingen and Hilzingen-Solar Parks in Baden-Württemberg-Creative picture: Xpert.digital

Innovative progress: solar parks are driving energy transition in Baden-Württemberg

XL PV Freeland projects in Adelsheim, Eppingen and Hilzingen-Solar Parks in Baden-Württemberg

The energy transition in Baden-Württemberg is progressing with great steps, as three current solar projects show in different regions of the federal state. In Adelsheim, Eppingen and Hilzingen, innovative open space solar systems with various concepts and participation models are currently being created.

The citizen.solarpark Eppingen: Community energy transition

The citizen.solarpark in Eppingen is one of the largest citizen participation projects in the area of renewable energies in the region. The photovoltaic open-air surface system planned by the Citizens' Association Kraichgau eG (Beg Kraichgau) extends over 35 hectares of module area and is intended to achieve an impressive performance of 60 MWP. With a forecast annual electricity generation of 60 million kilowatt hours, the system could cover the electricity requirement of more than 21,000 households - this corresponds to about half of the total electricity requirement from Eppingen.

The history of origin and planning

The initiative for this ambitious project originally assumed two Eckhard and Julius Bitterich, who had asked BEG to realize a citizen solar park in Eppingen. The topographically favorable location in a depression on the country road between Eppingen and Richen, opposite the Tiefental industrial and commercial area, offers ideal conditions for this project. This choice of location also minimizes the visual impairment of the landscape.

Ecological added value and citizen participation

The combination of energy generation and ecological sustainability is particularly remarkable in this project. An approximately 10 hectare green space with high ecological value is planned between the solar modules, which could also potentially be used as a pasture area for sheep. This concept of double use contributes to biodiversity and creates synergies between energy production and agriculture.

The focus is on the participation of the citizens in this project. Since the last information evening in March 2024, Beg Kraichgau has had an impressive membership growth of 30%. According to Sinsheim, Eppingen is now the largest group of members within the cooperative, which illustrates the great local interest in this project.

Economic aspects and schedule

A special feature of the citizen. Solar park is that it is realized completely without funding. The project company, in which, in addition to BEG, the landowners and the city of Eppingen can become partners, will be based in Eppingen and pay taxes there. The electricity generated is to be marketed via long-term delivery contracts (Power Purchase Agreements, PPAS), whereby a part could also be sold to the Eppingen municipal utility or directly to companies in the neighboring industrial and commercial area. The commissioning of the solar park is already planned for 2026.

Photovoltaic open-air area in Adelsheim-Roigheim: sheep under solar modules

Another innovative concept for solar parks is shown in the Adelsheim region: Bürgerenergie Bauland eG (BEG building land) has invested 100,000 euros in a photovoltaic open-air area in the Roigheimer won the Ebene/Schafberg. The corresponding participation contract was signed on June 21, 2024 by the BEG building land board members Silke Mai and Wolfram Bernhardt and the managing director of ZEAG Renewable Energies, Harald Endreß.

Technical data and performance

The system has an output of 8,700 kWp and achieves an annual energy yield of around 9.31 million kWh. Since its commissioning on July 18, 2023, the plant has been supplying green electricity for arithmetically around 3,100 households. Among the approximately 16,000 photovoltaic modules, sheep, which represents a special ecological double benefit and naturally supports area maintenance.

Future -oriented cooperations

In close cooperation with the Landeschaffenbuchbuchtverband Baden-Württemberg EV, the local shepherd Martin Ernst and the project developers of ZEAG, a guide will be developed for future projects of this kind. This form of cooperation could be directional for similar projects in the region.

Citizen participation and further developments

The citizens of Roigheim as well as the building land municipalities of Adelsheim, Easter Burken, Ravenstein, Rosenberg and Seckach can participate in the complex via the BEG building land. This extends the portfolio of the BEG building land, which in addition to the photovoltaic open-air area in Roigheim is also involved in a system in Sindolsheim and operates two own roof systems-one on the new Eckenberghalle in Adelsheim with around 140 kWp and one on a private roof in Merchingen with around 100 kWp.

In parallel to this development, the course for a new nursing home and another solar park were also set in Adelsheim, with excavators and equipment already being used.

Solar thermal open space in Hilzingen: Heat energy from the sun

As the third innovative project in the area of renewable energies, the municipality of Hilzingen is planning a new solar thermal open space with 1400 square meters of collectors. In contrast to the two previous photovoltaic projects that generate electricity, this is a system for heat generation.

Hilzingen as a pioneer for renewable energies

The municipality of Hilzingen already has experience with renewable energies: it has been known as Bioenergiedorf since 2015 after the heat network built in 2008 has been transferred to Solarcomplex AG. The base load on the Internet is supplied by the CHP of a biogas plant on the outskirts, while 34 buildings are supplied over a 4.6 km long local heating line. This infrastructure could now be supplemented by the planned solar thermal open space.

Solar thermal as a sustainable heat source

Solar thermal systems convert solar radiation into heat by absorbing collectors and transporting the heat transfer fluid to heat storage via a circulating heat transfer fluid. This technology is particularly suitable for hot water preparation and heating support in houses and can cover a significant part of the year -round hot water requirement.

In the summer months, modern solar thermal systems can supply 40-60% of the energy that is required for hot water preparation, while in the winter months they mainly serve to preheat the domestic water. In this way, they represent an effective addition to conventional heating systems and contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Baden-Württemberg on the way to the energy transition

The three projects presented in Adelsheim, Eppingen and Hilzingen illustrate the diversity and innovation in the field of solar energy in Baden-Württemberg. While the Citizens' Solar Park Eppingen and the photovoltaic open-air area in Adelsheim-Roigheim are geared towards the production of electricity, the planned solar thermal system in Hilzingen focuses on heat generation.

Particularly noteworthy is the strong citizen participation in these projects, which not only enables democratic participation in the energy transition, but also promotes regional added value. The innovative concepts for double use of the areas - be it through grazing with sheep or by integrating ecologically valuable green areas - also show that energy generation and nature conservation can go hand in hand.

With these and similar projects, Baden-Württemberg makes an important contribution to the energy transition and to achieve Germany's climate protection goals.

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