Enertrag On Track in Project Development - New Office Opens in Kiel
Dauerthal, Germany - The German government is pursuing ambitious expansion targets for renewable energies and has therefore significantly improved the framework conditions for the expansion of renewable energies in Germany.
The expansion of wind and solar energy is once again gaining significant momentum in Germany. On this basis, the renewable energy service provider Enertrag has achieved a successful financial year 2023/2024 in the area of project development. In the wind sector, Enertrag achieved the best result in the company's history with newly approved projects. Enertrag also opened a new office location in Kiel.
Record year in project development
Following the evaluation of all German projects in the 2023/2024 financial year (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024), it is clear that Enertrag was able to achieve great success. With a total of 233 MW of approvals in the wind sector, this is the best result of new approvals ever achieved through project development at Enertrag. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in particular stood out with an approved capacity of 111 MW. Thanks to political support, numerous projects in Brandenburg, which had stagnated in lengthy approval procedures, were also able to get off the ground, emphasises Enertrag.
Enertrag also reports significant progress for North Rhine-Westphalia and Central Germany. For example, licences were granted for the first time in the Hochsauerland district and the repowering project in Roitzsch (Saxony-Anhalt) was approved. The team in Lower Saxony celebrated the construction of the single turbine in Ramelsloh (municipality of Seevetal), which marks another milestone as the first commissioning in Lower Saxony after ten years of approval.
In addition to licences, a record result was also achieved in terms of new applications submitted. With 413 MW of licence applications, Enertrag believes that the foundation has been laid for a continued high number of licences. Enertrag is also pleased with the submission of the first applications in promising planning regions in Schleswig-Holstein, which are now hoping for rapid processing and realisation.
In addition, with the successful dismantling of four Dewind turbines and the subsequent start of construction of two new turbines in Roitzsch, Enertrag is strengthening its expertise as a full-service provider for the development and realisation of repowering turbines.
With 19.5 MW commissioned in the wind sector, all targets were also achieved. Although this figure appears low in comparison to the high number of approvals, Enertrag expects that most of the approved turbines will be connected to the grid in the next two financial years and that the number of commissioning will therefore increase significantly, according to the company.
Development of the photovoltaics segment is making progress
While the wind sector has made significant progress in terms of approvals, Enertrag's still young photovoltaic segment is also taking off. With the approval of the 44 MW park in Brüssow, an important foundation stone was laid for the further expansion of the Uckermark integrated power plant. At the same time, the first large ground-mounted solar project Kreuz Uckermark with 20 MW was put into operation early in the past financial year. Promising projects are being brought forward in order to speed up the approval process in the photovoltaic sector. Approvals for both the Brüssow project and the PV system for the Heidekrautbahn project are expected in the near future.
Schleswig-Holstein: State with potential - Enertrag opens new office in Kiel
Against the backdrop of successful project development in Schleswig-Holstein, Enertrag has set up a new office location in Kiel and officially opened it last week. Around 20 representatives from politics and business visited the new Enertrag office in Kiel, got to know the team and gained an overview of current projects.
In addition to the Lübeck subsidiary Enertrag Service, Enertrag is now also represented by a larger project team in Schleswig-Holstein thanks to the new location. The new office at Sophienblatt 36 is located directly opposite Kiel Central Station and is easily accessible by bus, train and car.
Initial considerations for a permanent office location in Kiel were made back in 2020. After a two-year test phase in a coworking space, the need for a permanent location emerged for discussions with interested parties, according to Enertrag. After originally employing two people, the team now consists of ten employees who enable reliable project development and management.
The Kiel office also offers the advantage that initial discussions through to applications for authorisation can be carried out on site.
According to Enertrag, it is particularly important for the office in Kiel to drive forward PtX (Power-to-X) projects in relation to the energy transition so that sensible hydrogen and heating concepts can be made available to communities. Renewable energies with a capacity of 140 per cent of demand are currently available in Schleswig-Holstein, but they often have to be curtailed. Enertrag is committed to making the surplus energy usable by making it available to local communities in the form of hydrogen, heat and battery storage.
The aim is to implement the successful model of the Enertrag integrated power plant, which can replace 100 per cent of a fossil fuel power plant, in Schleswig-Holstein. The federal state is predestined for this, as the large quantities of renewable electricity generated can only unfold their full effect through the integrated power plant and at the same time contribute to regional value creation.
„With the expansion of renewable energies, we have laid the foundations for this transformation here in the state at a very early stage. The conditions in the "True North" for multi-faceted companies such as Enertrag are therefore ideal: the economy can help shape the energy transition and benefit from it“, said Tobias Goldschmidt, Minister for Energy Transition of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, welcoming the opening of the new site.
„We are delighted that Enertrag, a pioneering company in the renewable energy sector, has discovered Kiel as a location. That fits the picture. After all, a lot is currently happening in this field in the state capital,“ adds Jörn Genoux, Head of the Department of Economic Affairs of the state capital of Kiel, with a view to the dynamic development in the field of innovative energy solutions in the Kiel region.
Source: IWR Online, 17 Jul 2024