Germany: Europa-Park to Be Completely Supplied with Solar Energy during Summer Seasons as of 2024
v.l.n.r.: Kippenheimer Bürgermeister Matthias Gutbrod, Landrat des Ortenaukreises Frank Scherer, Europa-Park Inhaber Roland Mack, Vorstandsvorsitzender MOSOLF Group Dr. Jörg Mosolf, Europa-Park Inhaber Jürgen Mack
Germany’s Europa-Park in Rust and the globally operating, also German company of MOSOLF (shareholder of Tropos Motors Europe, provider of electric utility vehicles), which specializes in automotive logistics, are jointly investing in a photovoltaic plant covering more than 20 hectares in Kippenheim near Lahr. About half of this planned plant size is to be used to supply Europa-Park with renewable energy in the future (probably from 2024) and in particular during the peak summer seasons. Once completed, the plant will produce around 25 gigawatt hours of electricity from renewable sources.
Europa-Park owner Roland Mack comments: “It was the idea of District Administrator Frank Scherer to bring our two companies together. The company MOSOLF […] has huge parking areas and we as Europa-Park need a lot of energy at peak times. The joint project is a perfect synergy of two family-owned companies in the Ortenau region. [...] Europa-Park will take a significant portion of the energy generated and in the long term will be able to supply itself with renewable electricity largely independently of other energy sources, especially in the peak summer months. This will be a significant step towards regenerative energy production. We already operate photovoltaic systems, hydroelectric power plants and combined heat and power plants, but this new plant will open up a whole new dimension in renewable energy supply,” says Mack. Looking to the future, the park will also focus on high-performance storage solutions that will enable even greater use of solar energy in the medium term.
The new project in Kippenheim is set to become by far the most comprehensive PV roofing project in Germany and – as far as is known – in the whole German-speaking area. The company’s CEO, Dr. Jörg Mosolf, comments: “As a partner in this promising project, the MOSOLF Group is making an important contribution to the generation of electricity from renewable energies and to the success of the energy turnaround. The expansion of photovoltaic and parking lot roofing is an important building block in the context of energy security as well as the predictability of energy costs. [...] In the coming weeks, we plan to hold further talks with interested large electricity consumers, especially here in the region, about additional long-term power purchase agreements to enable even more companies to participate in the energy transition.”
Frank Scherer adds: “With this lighthouse project, two high-performance family businesses are taking responsibility in an exemplary manner in terms of climate protection and energy efficiency. I am very pleased that this has been made possible on this site in the Ortenau district.” The total investment volume of the project is estimated at around 30 million euros. (eap)
