Deutsche Bahn has signed two long-term power purchase agreements with Blue Elephant Energy GmbH for approximately 2.5 terawatt hours of solar power, marking a significant expansion of the railway company's green energy portfolio. The electricity will be supplied by two large solar parks in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, both scheduled to begin operation by mid-2027.

The agreements enable Deutsche Bahn to cover the energy demand for approximately 14 million ICE train kilometers each year. With contract terms of up to 13 years, DB is facilitating the realization of both major projects while contributing to a climate-friendly energy supply for rail transport.

Solar Park Specifications and Capacity

Together, the two new solar parks will generate more than 300 gigawatt hours of electricity annually. The Schafhöfen solar park in Bavaria, with an installed capacity of 266 MWp, will become Germany's second-largest solar park once completed. By 2027, approximately 370,000 solar modules will be installed across an area larger than 300 soccer fields. The facility will include a dedicated on-site substation and a battery storage facility for efficient grid connection.

The second facility, the Aulendorf solar park in Baden-Württemberg, will have a capacity of 53 MWp, making it among the largest in the state. Both projects represent a development period of only three years from planning through construction.

Corporate Strategic Goals

Florian Reuter, Managing Director of DB Energie GmbH, emphasized the company's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2040. With around 15,000 train journeys daily on the electrified rail network, Deutsche Bahn operates as one of Germany's largest consumers of green electricity. The company views long-term green power contracts as essential to enabling the construction of large-scale solar parks and to strengthening renewable energy expansion in Germany.

Reuter highlighted that combining solar power with battery storage will provide greater flexibility in electricity usage while ensuring security of supply and economic efficiency. Solar power currently represents the lowest-cost source of power generation.

Blue Elephant Energy's Role and Growth

Felix Goedhart, founder and CEO of Blue Elephant Energy GmbH, described the agreements as an important milestone in the company's further growth in Germany. The deals contribute significantly to reliably and long-term decarbonizing the energy supply while strengthening Blue Elephant Energy's role as a project developer and integrated partner for green electricity from photovoltaics, wind, and battery storage systems.

Blue Elephant Energy GmbH develops, acquires, and operates solar and onshore wind parks as well as battery storage systems, focusing on the European market. Since its founding in 2016, the company has established itself as a leading independent power producer with an installed capacity of 1.73 GW and a project pipeline of 9.5 GW.

Deutsche Bahn's Current Green Energy Profile

Deutsche Bahn's green electricity portfolio includes offshore wind farms such as Nordsee-Ost, He Dreiht, Trianel Borkum, and Amrumbank-West, as well as onshore wind farms and photovoltaic parks across Germany. The portfolio has expanded to include battery storage systems, with the first two facilities scheduled to begin operation in Walsum and Beckum next year.

DB Energie GmbH is a key component of Deutsche Bahn's energy transition, developing and providing essential energy infrastructure. As a network operator, DB Energie manages more than 7,900 kilometers of 16.7-hertz traction power network, closed 50-hertz distribution grids, and DC supply systems for Berlin and Hamburg S-Bahn networks. By 2038, all DB traction power, totaling around seven terawatt hours annually, will be 100 percent green.

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