Stockbronner Hof solar park

• Annual yield: up to 90,000 MWh
• Nominal output: up to 90 MWp
• Number of modules: up to 160,000
• Area: up to 80 hectares
• Operating life: approx. 30 years

What components does a solar park consist of?

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 up to approx. 1.50 metres. 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. The degree of actual sealing of a solar park is less than 1 percent of the area.
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.

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. plans to build and operate 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. It is expected that all necessary permits will be available in February 2025.

A grass-herb mixture typical of the location is being developed in the areas below and between the module tables. This is being cultivated extensively and without the use of fertilisers or pesticides. Grazing sheep is a good option, for example. This gentle form of cultivation allows rare plant and animal species to develop in a protected area.

Promoting biodiversity

On the entire area, between and below the module tables, a diverse green area will be created with herbs and grasses typical of the site.

Flower strips are created selectively for various small animals and insects, which contribute to biotope networking.

On the entire area, between and below the module tables, a diverse green area will be created with herbs and grasses typical of the site. Flower strips are created selectively for various small animals and insects, which contribute to biotope networking.

Bush and hedge structures will be planted along the fence to integrate the solar park into the landscape and to create a habitat for insects.

Around 30 nesting boxes will also be installed for the native birds. To promote and ensure biodiversity, neither mulch mowing nor fertiliser or pesticides are used as part of the green maintenance of the solar park.

Especially for the skylark, which is particularly protected in Germany, compensatory measures will be applied in the area of the solar park.

Integration into the landscape

The landscape in the planning area is already heavily influenced by power lines. We want to integrate the solar park into the landscape as much as possible. To this end, the solar park will be divided using tree and shrub structures. Separate individual areas will be kept clear as corridors for wildlife.

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.

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.