Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Moser Baer Clean Energy have officially commissioned by-far the most powerful photovoltaic plant on a railway-owned surface in Wittenberge. The solar park is standing on a former landfill site of 8 hectares (or eleven football sized fields) with a power generation capacity of 3.92MWp. The electricity generated will be fed into the local grid which will help meet the annual energy needs of about 900 households.
Since 1997, DB has equipped the railway station roofs such as Uelzen, Hamelin and Berlin Central Station with solar PV Plants. It was later followed by S-Bahn workshops in Frankfurt. DB board has systematized the use of solar energy in late 2010 to determine across the functions in Germany, such roof and surface potential, which can be used for renewable energy. Meanwhile, three million square feet of potential space has been identified for installation of solar plants. Thereby DB follows the principle, that the company invites tender for suitable land and leases them to an outside investor, who builds photovoltaic systems there and sells power.
Lalit Jain, CEO, Wind & International Solar, Moser Baer Clean Energy said, "Moser Baer Clean Energy Limited was incorporated with a strategy to undertake development of solar projects worldwide. Our endeavour in German market has been successful due to favourable government policies and continuous support of our partners in Germany. For the successful commissioning of Project Wittenberge, we thank our partners including DB Netz AG which has supported us in a great way to successfully develop the Project. We look forward to do more such successful projects in Germany with DB Netz in future."