Leipzig's huge solar thermal system: 26 GWh heat from the sun!

Leipzig's huge solar thermal system: 26 GWh heat from the sun!

Lausen-Grünau, Deutschland - Ritter XL Solar has taken an important step in the energy transition by completing the installation of the large -scale solar thermal system in Leipzig. Today, on June 18, 2025, the last collector in the Lausen-Grünau district was installed. This innovative system consists of 13,200 highly developed vacuum tube collectors of type XL 19/49, which are installed on an area of ​​14 hectares. The final commissioning of the system is planned for early 2026, which marks another stage on the way to a sustainable energy supply.

The Ritter XL Solar collectors have an area of ​​4.94 square meters and are equipped with CPC mirrors that are able to capture diffuse sunlight. This is particularly important because the usable aperture area of ​​the collectors is 4.5 square meters. This technology optimizes energy generation, especially on days with irregular sunlight.

technology and efficiency of the collectors

The vacuum tube collectors are housed in double-walled glass tubes, which are equipped with liquid-filled heat conductor. This vacuum significantly reduces heat losses because there is no air between the absorber and the cover plate, which also prevents the air movement and cooling. The vacuum guarantees optimal insulation without convection and transmission losses. The heat generated by the pent -up energy is directed to a heat storage facility where it is available for the need -based use. These collectors are particularly effective in heating support and the provision of process heat in industry, even at high temperatures.

Another remarkable feature of the collectors is the reflector behind the vacuum tubes, which significantly increases the performance in diffuse radiation. In addition, the collectors have a special advantage: they are 20 centimeters higher, which can promote not only efficiency, but also the biodiversity of the installation area. The degree of sealing of the area is only 0.01 percent based on the collector area.

ecological advantages and future perspectives

The new system will provide about 26 gigawatt hours of heat annually and has a thermal top performance of around 41 megawatts. In summer it can cover around 20 percent of the daily requirement of heat in Leipzig. This leads to a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels and thus to avoid around 7,160 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The use of water as a heat transfer medium since 2004 instead of solar fluid also testifies to an environmentally friendly approach.

The fully automatic control technology of the system enables efficient and needs -based control, which further increases the usability and efficiency of the heat provided, which is of great importance in today's world.

Overall, the commissioning of this large-scale solar thermal system in Leipzig represents an important project as part of the energy transition and shows how innovative technologies can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions and promoting sustainable energy future. Further information on the collectors can be found on Solarthermie-Info.