(left to right) Lars Kulik (CTO RWE Power), Markus Meurer (Kerpen), Georg Gelhausen (Merzenich), Katja Wünschel (CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia), Andreas Heller (Elsdorf), Boris Linden (NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH), Frank Rombey (Niederzier)
(left to right) Lars Kulik (CTO RWE Power), Markus Meurer (Kerpen), Georg Gelhausen (Merzenich), Katja Wünschel (CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia), Andreas Heller (Elsdorf), Boris Linden (NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH), Frank Rombey (Niederzier)
The municipalities around Hambach opencast mine and RWE are setting an example for the energy transition by expanding the partnership they entered into in 2024. Via a joint project company with RWE, NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH, which represents the interests of neighbouring municipalities Elsdorf, Jülich, Kerpen, Merzenich, Niederzier and Titz, purchased 49 percent of a photovoltaic plant developed and installed by RWE. The plant close to the village of Niederzier has a capacity of around 14 megawatts peak (MWp) and has been in operation since summer 2025.
The partners now jointly operate three large solar farms and a battery storage facility at the Hambach opencast mine. A total of over 109,000 solar modules have an electric output of 61 MWp and can supply the equivalent of around 19,000 households with green electricity each year. The battery storage facility has a capacity of 8 megawatt hours, helping adapt electricity feed-in even more flexibly according to demand. In addition, the municipalities have the option to participate via NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH in new renewable energy projects by RWE in the future.
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “The fact that municipalities are participating in these solar projects shows that the energy transition meets with acceptance when people can help shape it. We as RWE remain an integral part of the region. We are investing together and creating long-term benefit locally. In this way, the energy transition is becoming a project of the entire region.”
Dr Lars Kulik, RWE Power board member responsible for the Lignite division: “Combining solar plants with a battery storage facility enables us to use the space at Hambach opencast mine in a sensible and sustainable manner. This is another example of how we are driving forward structural change in the region with value-enhancing projects and side by side with the local municipalities.”
Frank Rombey, Mayor of Niederzier: “Revenues from the photovoltaic plant give us the leeway to actively participate in shaping how the area is used in the future. This makes structural change tangible and meets with acceptance by local people.”
RWE continues to forge ahead with the expansion of renewable energies in the Rhenish region
RWE operates nine onshore wind farms and nine photovoltaic plants in the Rhenish region – four of which have integrated battery storage systems. Further wind and solar farms are under construction and in the planning stage.
Image materials for media use are available at the RWE Media Centre (Source: RWE).