World’s Largest Solar Facility Begins Operation in Germany

A new 40-megawatt solar power plant is now online near Leipzig, in a region of Germany that already is home to three of the world’s biggest solar parks. Once out of its transitional phase, in which it functions as a 24-megawatt plant, the Waldpolenz Solar Park will be the world’s largest solar facility, equipped with 550,000 thin-film solar collecting modules. The park will recoup all the power used in its construction after a year of operation. Elsewhere in Germany — which a BP report called the “world’s greenest country” for reducing oil, gas, and coal use by 5.6 percent in 2007 — a new law compels builders of new homes and renovators to install a square meter of solar paneling for every 20 square meters of surface area. While the cost to homeowners may reach €5,000 ($7,795), the town’s mayor says the savings from the use of solar power should match the expenditure after about 15 years.