The contract between Deutsche Bahn and the Hamburg-based company Enerparc AG envisages the erection of a new solar power plant in Wasbek, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Construction will begin as soon as possible, subject to approval from technical and regional authorities and the municipality. The plant’s solar panels will cover approximately 70 football fields. Modules with an output of 42 megawatt peak (MWp) should generate approximately 38 gigawatt hours of energy per year. The electricity generated will reach the 16.7 Hz traction power network via the DB substation in Neumunster, Germany. “First, we inject the solar power directly into the traction power network,” explains Ronald Pofalla, the director of infrastructure at Deutsche Bahn. “The new solar plant will contribute to DB’s yearly increase in the proportion of green power we use.”

Deutsche Bahn is already the largest consumer of green energy in Germany. According to the group, its current proportion of green power used is 60%. The aim is for renewable energy to account for 100% of DB’s traction current by 2038.