Leipzig's solar boost: green electricity for 1,000 households and more!

Leipzig's solar boost: green electricity for 1,000 households and more!

The city of Leipzig is committed to a sustainable energy future and has made significant progress in the expansion of photovoltaic systems (PV systems) on municipal roofs in recent years. Around 2,300 megawatt hours of green electricity are currently produced on these roofs per year, which corresponds to the average annual consumption of around 1,000 single-person households. This initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to promote renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions in the city.

An outstanding example of the initiative is the new photovoltaic system at the Kurt Masur School, which covers an area of ​​3,370 square meters and offers a maximum output of 99 kilowatts. This system is currently being put into operation by the network operator. Around 70 percent of the electricity generated is used directly in the school, which illustrates the direct impact of renewable energy on the local community. The definition and implementation of these projects took place in close cooperation between the city and the school communities, which were actively involved in the planning.

Standardization and increased efficiency

Leipziger Kommunale Energieeffekt GmbH (LKE), under the leadership of managing director Stephan Klan, plays a central role in this project. Through collaboration with the city of Leipzig, a standardization process for the installation of PV systems is being advanced. This speeds up processes and improves efficiency, not only on the large roofs of the funding projects, but also on smaller municipal areas.

Since 2020, the city council has also examined around 3,000 roof areas for their suitability for PV systems, taking criteria such as size, construction condition and monument protection into account. The aim is for every new municipal roof to have both green areas and power generation systems. If structurally possible, existing roofs should also be gradually equipped with PV systems in order to further advance the city's sustainable development.

Future projects and goals

A total of 38 new photovoltaic systems have already been built on municipal buildings in recent years, and a further 15 systems are being planned and constructed for 2025. A notable planned project is a photovoltaic carport in the P+R parking lot at the Neue Messe, which aims for an output of 1 megawatt peak. Between 1 and 1.5 megawatts peak are expected to be added annually from the new installations, which will further increase the production capacity for green electricity.

Efforts to expand renewable energies are important not only for environmental reasons, but also from an economic perspective. Around 50 to 70 percent of the electricity produced is used by the facilities themselves, while the rest is fed into the public grid. This not only strengthens the regional energy supply, but also helps strengthen the local economy. Leipzig thus shows how significant progress can be achieved through committed local politics and clever measures in the area of ​​renewable energies.