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New solar system in Freising: energy for drinking water by 2026!
Freisinger Stadtwerke is planning a new photovoltaic system along the railway line to cover 50% of the energy requirements for the drinking water supply.
New solar system in Freising: energy for drinking water by 2026!
The Freisinger Stadtwerke set a new accent in the region's sustainability efforts. An open-air photovoltaic system is being created along the railway line between Freising and Pulling, which promises an installed output of 6,000 kilowatt hours over an area of around 55,000 square meters. With a total of 9,760 modules and 18 inverters, a green oasis is being created here, which is scheduled to be put into operation from April 2026. The transformer station is cleverly integrated into the existing waterworks in Vötting, which optimizes the interface to the water supply. The electricity generated will not only cover 50 percent of Freising's drinking water supply all year round, but will also offer the opportunity to feed excess energy into the network and market it wochenanzeiger.de reported.
With an investment of around 3.6 million euros, the municipal utilities are pursuing a sustainable and future-oriented project. The expected amount of electricity is around 6.5 million kilowatt hours, which will enable the city of Freising to take a significant step towards climate neutrality. The planning could only be pushed forward thanks to a positive vote in the planning committee of the city of Freising and the approval of the lower nature conservation authority.
Part of green city politics
The construction of this photovoltaic system fits seamlessly into the ambitious climate strategy of the city of Freising. Since 2013, the city has set itself the goal of becoming a climate-friendly and energy-efficient municipality. The “Energy Transition Resolution” of 2023 provides for complete independence from fossil fuels by 2035. Platforms for the massive expansion of solar power are planned, as the city explains on its website. A decisive step in this direction was the adoption of a comprehensive location concept for open-space photovoltaic systems in 2022, which was based on a thorough preliminary investigation and took into account the city's urban development concerns, according to freising.de.
The role of open spaces
Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems actually require additional space compared to conventional rooftop systems. According to the Federal Environment Agency, the area requirement per megawatt has fallen from 4.1 hectares in 2006 to around 1 hectare in 2021. In Germany, around 32,000 hectares of PV open spaces were installed at the end of 2021, with a variety of areas being used, including conversion areas and edges of traffic routes. This solution not only has the potential to increase energy production, but can also help promote biodiversity when placed in suitable areas, as umweltbundesamt.de has found.
With the new project, Freisinger Stadtwerke has shown a good knack for bringing the city one step closer to its vision of a green future. The combination of renewable energy and water supply could serve as a model for similar projects in other regions and further support the sustainable course.