Spanish energy provider Iberdrola has brought its first solar park in Germany online in Boldekow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The facility comprises around 80,000 solar panels across an area larger than 65 football pitches. It is expected to generate up to 53 gigawatt-hours annually.
Millions to flow into municipal coffers
The project is notable for its direct power supply to Vodafone Germany. A long-term power purchase agreement will feed all generated electricity into the nationwide mobile network. According to Vodafone, this will meet the energy needs of around 3,000 mobile phone stations. The municipality of Boldekow is also set to benefit, with millions in property tax revenue expected to flow into local coffers over the coming decades.
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According to Vodafone Germany CEO Marcel de Groot, the project forms part of a broader effort to make network operations more sustainable: “The 80,000 solar panels that Iberdrola is now launching in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will transmit exclusively for our network and can thus ensure the operation of more than 3,000 stations across the country.” Over its planned 30-year lifespan, the solar park is expected to save around 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The facility was implemented in collaboration with partner companies including Solarpro, Sungrow, P&Q and 4Energy.
Iberdrola: solar power and offshore wind
For Iberdrola, the project marks its entry into the German photovoltaic market. Until now, the company has primarily operated in Germany through offshore wind farms such as Wikinger, Baltic Eagle and Windanker in the Baltic Sea. “Photovoltaics is another building block to expand our renewable offering in Germany,” says Felipe Montero, Managing Director of Iberdrola Deutschland. (nhp)
