New substation in Germany to connect Europe’s largest agri-PV project

In Germany a substation is being built to connect green power to the high voltage grid from what is being called the largest agri-PV project on the continent, extending across eight districts and connecting up to 753MWp.

Consisting of four transformers, the substation will feed energy into the high-voltage network of regional DSO E.DIS Netz via a 110kv cable system. Once complete the substation will bring up to 753MWp total installed system output to the power grid.

The substation is being built by SUNfarming, a developer of and investor in agri-photovoltaic systems in Germany, alongside SPIE, an independent European developer of multi-technical services in energy and communications.

SUNfarming, SPIE and E.DIS Netz are calling the project, known as the Steinhöfel Climate Park, the largest agri-PV project in Europe and a flagship project in the photovoltaics industry.

Work on the substation is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with commissioning planned for the second quarter of 2026.

Once commissioned, the first parts of the agri-PV park in Steinhöfel will be connected directly to the grid via the substation.

E.DIS Netz is involved in providing the grid connection at the Steinhöfel substation, which serves as the hub for the feed-in of green electricity from the project.

Commenting in a release was Petra Kortenkamp, head of individual customers at E.DIS Netz: “For over two years, we have been intensively involved in the planning and implementation of the technical grid connection, which enables the generated renewable energy to be efficiently integrated into the grid.

“This project impressively demonstrates how cooperation and technological innovations can pave the way for a sustainable energy future. We are determined to further increase our contribution to the energy transition and to promote and implement innovative projects that drive the energy transition forward.”

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The Steinhöfel Climate Park

The project combines sustainable energy generation with real agricultural production on an area of around 500 hectares.

Innovative designs and technologies enable efficient and sustainable dual use of the agricultural land with light and rainwater management under bifacial glass-glass PV modules, which are installed at a minimum height of 2.10 meters, in accordance with DIN SPEC.

This dual use has lasting positive effects on animal welfare and husbandry, biodiversity, CO2 reduction, groundwater protection and agricultural yield security on the sandy soils in this region that have previously been difficult to cultivate.

SUNfarming developed the agricultural concept for the Steinhöfel Climate Park in close cooperation with an agricultural consultancy for local agricultural companies and local farmers and brought it to the building permit phase within four years of development.

After the construction of the agri-PV systems, the agricultural land will be used as perennial feed production areas and as temporary portion pastures for calf and heifer breeding.

SPIE is providing all services for this project, from building permit and implementation planning to the entire procurement of materials for the substation, primary and secondary planning, assembly and commissioning.

Said Burkhard Sager, head of the high voltage division at SPIE Germany & Central Europe: “With our technical solutions, we enable the integration of renewable energies and thus create the infrastructural conditions for the energy transition and a climate-friendly future.

“We are pooling our decades of experience to realize this complex project,” adds Hannes Weinreich, head of the green substations department in the High Voltage division at SPIE Germany & Central Europe.

“The challenges lie primarily in the tight schedule, in which many work steps have to mesh precisely with one another for a project of this magnitude to succeed.”

Said Martin Tauschke, co-founder and managing director of SUNfarming: “The Steinhöfel Climate Park is the largest SUNfarming pioneer project that we have successfully developed in just under four years with the statutory resolutions in all districts.

“We can only realise this ambitious project thanks to the very good and close cooperation with the municipality of Steinhöfel, the citizens of the region, the Oder-Spree district, our agricultural lessors and our technical partners.”