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Stockbronner Hof solar park

A project of BayWa r.e.

The Stockbronner Hof solar park is being built in the municipality of Neckarzimmern on an area of approx. 80 hectares and has a capacity of approx. 95 MWp. It can generate up to approx. 120 million kWh (kilowatt hours) of green electricity, which corresponds to the average electricity consumption of around 35,661 households in Germany (with a consumption of approx. 3,213 kilowatt hours).

As of today, the project will thus be the largest ground-mounted PV system in Baden-Württemberg to date. An expansion to include a battery energy storage system (BESS) is currently being planned. In addition, ecological compensation measures ensure that biodiversity for local flora and fauna is preserved and strengthened.

What is planned?

What is planned?

General information

The solar park covers an area of up to 80 hectares. It is divided into an eastern and a western part at the Stockbronner Hof. The western part is mostly flat. In the eastern part, the terrain is more sloped and consists partly of north-facing slopes.

area scenery

Solar park

  • Annual yield: up to 120,000 MWh

  • Nominal output: up to 95 MWp

  • Number of modules: up to 160,000

  • Area: up to 80 hectares

  • Operating life: approx. 30 years

Battery energy storage system

  • Capacity: 100 MW

  • Installed capacity / duration: 40 MW / 4h

A solar park essentially consists of only the following components:

  • Solar panels

  • Metal Racks

  • Inverter

  • Transformer stations and cables

  • Fence

The posts of the frames are rammed into the ground. The modules are installed on the rack, also called a table, and the inverters are located on the backs of the tables. The rows of tables will be set up at intervals of three to four metres, in north-facing slope areas even with a distance of up to six metres. This leaves room for extensive grassland.

The inverter collects the electricity via cables laid in the ground in several transformer stations and from there brings it together again to the connection point of the distribution grid.

The solar park can be completely dismantled without leaving any residue. Less than one percent of the area will be sealed for the duration of the solar park's operation.

For safety reasons, the area must be fenced off. However, the fence has a distance of 10 centimeters from the ground and can therefore be passed unhindered by small mammals.

Components of a solar park

The connection to the 110 kV grid of Netze BW will take place within the area. This requires the construction of its own substation. This will be built directly adjacent to the EnBW substation, which is currently under construction on the northern edge of the area, ensuring that it will be barely visible.

Project Participants / Project Partners

As the initiator and owner of the land, the von Gemmingen-Hornberg family wants to make a contribution to the energy transition and ensure that their properties and Hornberg Castle in particular can be operated in the long term.

With the project, the municipality of Neckarzimmern would become an energy transition model municipality, which has many advantages for the municipality: In addition to ecological power generation, Neckarzimmern can generate income for the municipal treasury from the solar park. In addition, the solar park promotes biodiversity in the cultural landscape in the municipal area.

The agricultural company of the Bitterich family wants to put its business on a broader basis and build up another mainstay with the cultivation of the land.

Baywa r.e. is responsible for the planning, construction and commissioning of the Stockbronner Hof solar park.

As a resident, you can also participate financially in the solar park and benefit from the interest on your deposits. We can determine the framework conditions for resident financial participation once the project has been finalised.

In January 2023, we started the approval phase. Since then, all necessary investigations have been carried out, the approval documents have been prepared and the approval procedures have been carried out. At different times, citizens had the opportunity to contribute ideas and comments: There were two disclosure phases in the central land use planning procedure. In addition, in April 2023 we held an information event at the Protestant Educational Center. We have all the necessary permits for the Stockbronner Hof solar park, the Bernbrunn solar park and the associated substation. We expect approval for the battery storage system in the summer of 2026.

With the Stockbronner Hof solar park, we as a municipality want to make an important contribution to the energy transition.

It also offers us the opportunity to generate income that we can use for public services.

Christian Stuber

Mayor of Neckarzimmern

Special features of the project

The solar park is characterized by its direct location under or next to various high-voltage lines. The ecological electricity generated in the solar park can be fed directly into the grid without a long cable route. Together with the owner and the agricultural manager of the land and the municipality of Neckarzimmern, we want to create an exemplary project for the Neckar-Odenwald district.

Bundling of energy infrastructure

In the area of the planned area backdrop, there are already a large number of high-voltage lines that characterise the landscape. With the Stockbronner Hof solar park, the electricity infrastructure can be bundled in one place.

In addition, it is planned to dismantle the existing 20kV medium-voltage line in the area of the solar park and re-lay it underground.

Information and participation opportunities

29 January 2024 second round of participation

On 29 January 2024, the municipal council decided to "disclose" the planning documents as part of the land-use plan procedure. The draft development plan and the discussion of the comments from the early participation phase will be made available to the public from mid-February to the end of March.

26 June 2023 first round of participation

In the land-use plan process, the municipal council decided on the first round of participation "Early participation" on 26 June 2023. From mid-July to the end of August 2023, there will be the opportunity to view the current documents on the project and submit comments.

29 April 2023 Information fair

Together with the municipality of Neckarzimmern, we invited to an information fair on the Stockbronner Hof solar park.

  • When: Saturday, April 29, 2023

  • Time: from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Where: On the grounds of the Protestant Youth Education Centre. Steige 50 in 74865 Neckarzimmern

The information fair offers the opportunity to find out about various topics related to the planned project. You can talk to our experts in detail about the status of planning, technology and nature and species conservation.

The Dialogue Forum Energy Transition and Nature Conservation - a joint project of BUND and NABU - will also be on site and will be available to answer your questions.

In addition, the Protestant Youth Education Centre offers information about its own progressive environmental activities on the site. The youth education centre will also provide refreshments.

We are pleased that our areas are particularly suitable for a solar park due to the existing infrastructure.

By making our land available, we can make our contribution to the energy transition. And with the long-term income from the lease, we can ensure the operation and maintenance of Hornberg Castle.

Family of Gemmingen-Hornberg

Project progress

December 2025

All necessary permits for solar parks and substation have been obtained

21.02.2025

The city administration of Mosbach issues the building permit for the substation

14. January 2025

The city administration of Mosbach issues the building permit for the Solarpark Stockbronner Hof.

3. June 2024

The municipal council of Neckarzimmern decides in public session the development plan "Solar Park Stockbronner Hof" as a statute. The publication of the development plan is still pending and is expected in spring 2025.

29. January 2024

The municipal council approves the handling of the comments from the early participation and the draft development plan. It unanimously decides to disclose the planning documents for the next public participation.

19. December 2023

The amendment to the Landscape Conservation Area Ordinance was announced by the District Office and has come into force.

Autumn 2023

The comments from the early participation of the public will be incorporated into the planning documents.

28. June 2023

The Regional Council informs the municipality that the target deviation procedure has been successfully completed. This clears the way for further approval procedures, such as the land-use plan procedure.

26. June 2023

The municipal council approves the preliminary draft for the development plan and unanimously decides on early participation.

29. April 2023

The information fair for residents offers the opportunity to find out about various topics related to the planned project.

Summer 2023

As part of the public participation in the land-use plan procedure, each resident will have the opportunity to view the documents on the project.

January 2023 – mid 2024

We have started the approval phase and drawing up concrete plans. This involves conducting studies on the flora and fauna, monuments and other aspects of the area.

27. June 2022

The municipal council of Neckarzimmern unanimously approves the decision to set up the project.

19. July 2021

First presentation of the project to the municipal council in a closed session.

What added value does a battery energy storage system generate?

A battery energy storage system contributes to a secure energy supply: it can store electricity generated at times of high solar radiation (e.g. at noon) to make it available during times of high demand. This compensates for fluctuations in the power grid and reduces grid overloads.

Did you know that solarparks can promote diversity?

We at BayWa r.e. have set ourselves the goal of promoting biodiversity on our land in the best possible way when designing our solar parks, e.g. by protecting or creating new habitats for insects, birds and other animals.

In this context, we have committed ourselves with the German Association of the New Energy Industry (German: Bundesverband Neue Energiewirtschaft e. V.) (bne)) to compliance with best-practice standards for the good planning of ground-mounted PV systems and are sure that in this way we will be able to create added value both for climate and species protection as well as for the community and its local citizens.

The current extensive field study "Biodiversity in Solar Parks" by the bne investigated the effect of well-planned, modern solar systems on biodiversity. The finding: Solar parks on agricultural land increase biodiversity in the cultural landscape.

Image Gallery: Biodiversity in our solar parks

Solar park Stockbronner Hof 01
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 02
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Solar park Stockbronner Hof 01
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 02
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 03
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 04
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 05
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 06
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 07
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 08
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 09
Solar park Stockbronner Hof 10

Contact

Markus Wanckel
Team Lead Project Development PV Germany
+49 761 383686 261
Write an email

We are an international project developer of wind, solar and battery storage (BESS) projects. Our activities include the planning, development and construction of these projects, as well as their operation and maintenance, and energy trading. BayWa r.e. is also a leading global supplier to the solar distribution market. In total, we have successfully brought online more than 6 GW of renewable energy. Our shareholders are BayWa AG and Energy Infrastructure Partners.

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