Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG, Waldenbuch/Germany is going online with its own ground-mounted photovoltaic system: in the Bavarian town of Wenzenbach (district of Regensburg), 7,383 PV modules with an output of 4,000 kWp will in future generate green energy on an area spanning four hectares. With an annual output of around four million kWh, this will enable Ritter to produce the equivalent of approx. 120 million bars of chocolate. The solar park thus makes a significant contribution towards achieving the ambitious climate goals of the Swabian family-owned company.
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Continuing their straight comitment
Known for its ecological commitment, the chocolate manufacturer has pledged to reduce Their emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3) by 42 per cent by 2030 compared to 2021. For this, Ritter is focusing on extensive decarbonisation, i.e. switching to regenerative energy sources, and wants to achieve its energy turnaround through its own wind and photovoltaic plants. By commissioning the solar park in Wenzenbach, Ritter will be able to cover more than half of its future electricity requirements at the Waldenbuch site using self-produced energy from regenerative sources.
Cooperating with local energy company
“Through close cooperation with the municipality of Wenzenbach and the regional project developer Voltgrün Energie GmbH, it was possible to create the legal basis for the freestanding PV plant in just one year”, emphasises Asmus Wolff, Managing Director Supply Chain at Ritter. “Over a construction period of just under eight weeks, the plant was erected and integrated into the network of Stadtwerke Regensburg.”
To enable secondary utilisation of the area as pasture for sheep, the PV modules were installed at a height of 80 cm. Regional pasture grasses with a herb content of 30 percent are currently being sown. With the planting of native species such as hawthorn, elder or blackthorn around the solar park, all work will be completed this autumn. From spring 2024, sheep will take over the maintenance of the areas under the solar modules.
Source and picture: Ritter Sport
