Bavaria Solarpark, Germany

Dr. Robert Peltier, PE

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Field-tested

The 10-MW Bavaria Solarpark—christened by PowerLight Corp. (Berkeley, Calif.), Deutsche Structured Finance, and the other project partners (see table) on June 30, 2005—is the world's largest grid-connected PV system, at least for now (see sidebar). The system consists of three individual parks in the cities of Mühlhausen, Günching, and Minihof. With 6.3 MW in Mühlhausen (Figure 2) and 1.9 MW each in Günching and Minihof, the project cost about $62.5 million to construct, based on current currency-conversion rates. That works out to a whopping $6,250/kW of capacity.

Key contributors to Bavaria Solarpark. Source: PowerLight Corp.

2. Bucolic Bavaria. The 6.3-MW Mühlhausen Solarpark under construction. Courtesy: PowerLight Corp.

The 57,600 PV panels spread over 62 acres were erected on bucolic Bavarian fields, where herds of grazing Moorland sheep keep the grass short under the panels. Extensive planting enhanced the integration of the project site into the surroundings. Rumor has it that there's a job opening for a shepherd at one of the plants.

PowerLight, which designed, developed, and built the entire system on a turnkey basis, also is responsible for servicing it. That's important, because the system uses the company's patented PowerTracker technology to follow the sun, maximizing solar "insolation" and output (Figure 3). The photovoltaic modules themselves come from Sharp Electronics. Siemens AG provided all electrical construction and equipment, including inverters. Interconnection to the electrical grid was provided by the regional German utility E.ON.

3. Solar sea. Banks of PV panels are vertically tracked against the path of the sun, maximizing solar energy collection, or "insolation." Courtesy: PowerLight

Given how far north the system is, it's not surprising that 76% of its annual production takes place between April and September. Plant data from January to September 2005 confirm that the tracking system exposes the panels to 33% more solar insolation than horizontal systems, and to 15% more solar insolation than fixed, 30-degree tilt systems. The plant became 100% operational in December 2004, and it has been 100% reliable during all daylight hours since.

Portugal scores next "biggest PV plant." Who's next?

On June 6, GE Energy Financial Services, PowerLight Corp., and Lisbon-based Catavento Lda. broke ground on what will be the world's largest photovoltaic (PV) power project when it is completed next January. The $75 million, 11-MW plant, comprising 52,000 PV modules, is under construction in Serpa, Portugal, 124 miles southeast of Lisbon in one of Europe's sunniest areas.

GE Energy Financial Services is financing and will own the facility. PowerLight has designed and will operate and maintain the plant. Catavento, a leading Portuguese renewable energy company, developed the project and will provide management services. Deliveries of PV modules and structural steel have begun, and construction of an electric substation is under way. The project sits on a 150-acre south-facing hillside that will remain productive farmland. As mandated by legislation similar to Germany's Renewable Energy Law, Portuguese utilities must purchase solar-generated electricity energy at a price close to 40 cents/kWh.

Who will next claim the title of largest PV plant? A top contender is Israel, which is building a 100-MW PV plant in the Ashalim area of the Negev to supply electricity to homes in the southern part of the country. Conceivably, that project's rating could be expanded to a mammoth 500 MW, at a cost of $1 billion. A recent study found that Israel could produce 2,500 MW from solar energy, one-fourth of its current demand, by 2025.

Win-win for investors, Europe

Bavaria Solarpark was financed by Solar Energy Fund Bavaria, a closed fund in which private investors can still take shares. Under the REL, the fund benefits from a legally fixed payment for produced power.

"Solar electricity is an important and highly reliable source of power," said Janine Schellhorn, chief managing director of Deutsche Structured Finance. "Well-structured solar energy projects offer investors a solid opportunity with interesting after-tax yields. Additionally, they contribute to a sustainable energy future and environmental protection."

"Over the next 20 to 30 years, the Bavaria Solarpark will generate hundreds of millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity with zero emissions," added Tom Dinwoodie, CEO of PowerLight. "We look forward to developing more partnerships across Europe to meet increasing demand for solar power."

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