The event was attended by representatives from the political sphere, the financing bank Commerzbank, Deutsche Bahn as the main off-taker of the generated electricity, and the contractors. Project partners include GOLDBECK SOLAR, responsible for constructing the solar park, and Bayernwerk, which has been commissioned to build the substation and handle the grid connection.
Felix Goedhart, founder and CEO of Blue Elephant Energy, said, “The Schafhöfen solar park marks a milestone in our company’s development. BEE brought the solar park to construction readiness in a record time of three years. We would like to extend our special thanks to the municipality and local authorities, who consistently supported the development in a pragmatic and goal-oriented manner. When all partners are committed to success, speed is possible in Germany.”
Dr. Nick Seeger, Managing Director of Bayernwerk Netz, said. “We are very pleased to be part of this project, which, given its size and grid-connected capacity, serves as a true beacon for the region. At the same time, it is also of particular significance to us, as the construction of a substation of this scale allows us to make a key contribution to the integration of renewable energy. The fact that we are implementing this project together with our client and strong partners such as Blue Elephant Energy, GOLDBECK SOLAR, the local municipality, and the landowners underscores the importance of trusting collaboration for the success of the energy transition.”
The solar park is scheduled to begin operations in September 2027. Once completed, the facility will generate approximately 296,000 megawatt-hours of climate-friendly electricity annually. This is enough to power about 147,000 households or, as in this case, to power Deutsche Bahn’s ICE trains, resulting in annual CO₂ savings of approximately 200,000 tons.
The Schafhöfen solar park supports BEE’s ESG and climate goals while also making a significant contribution to the energy transition. The on-site implementation will provide important economic stimulus for the region, both during the construction phase and through the plant’s long-term operation.
