City of Waghäusel photovoltaic projects
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587 kWp Total PV Capacity
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630,300 kWh Estimated electricity production annually
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240 tonnes Estimated CO2e savings per year*
*estimated CO2e savings based on average grid electricity emissions factor of 380 gCO2e per kWh in Germany in 2023 (Source)
Customer Needs
Waghäusel, a city in Germany, wanted to transition its public buildings toward renewable energy to meet environmental goals and reduce energy costs. The key drivers behind the project included:
The need to lower the town's reliance on traditional energy sources, thus reducing CO2 emissions.
A desire to minimize rising electricity costs for municipal buildings.
The complex nature of the town’s older infrastructure, which posed challenges for retrofitting modern solar technologies.
Ensuring a financially viable approach, without requiring significant upfront capital investment, that could also yield long-term benefits for the city.
The Solution Delivered by Wirsol
Through a successful partnership with Wirsol Roof Solutions, the city has taken substantial steps toward becoming more sustainable:
Photovoltaic Installations: A total of 1,432 photovoltaic modules were installed across eight public buildings. These systems contribute significantly to the city’s clean energy supply, generating up to 630,300 kWh of electricity annually. The largest system, located on the roof of the Nesthäkchen day care centre, features 382 modules.
Energy Efficiency and Savings: The municipal buildings combined consume 133,886 kWh annually, meaning the city has a substantial energy surplus of 496,419 kWp, which is fed back into the public power grid. This surplus is a major milestone in Waghäusel’s effort to become more self-sufficient and contribute to the local power supply.
Environmental Impact: The installed PV systems contribute to a reduction of 294 tons of CO2 emissions per year, helping the city make a meaningful impact on climate change and promoting a greener future for its residents.
Storage and Self-Sufficiency: To maximize efficiency and self-consumption, battery storage solutions with a capacity of 192 kWh were also installed. These storage units allow for better utilization of the energy produced, ensuring a stable and reliable power supply even when solar production dips.
Financial Benefits and Economic Model
The city implemented a leasing model that allows it to avoid upfront costs while still enjoying the benefits of solar energy. By leasing the rooftops of municipal buildings to Wirsol Roof Solutions, the city generates a steady stream of income through annual lease payments.
In addition to the income from leasing, the city also benefits from significantly lower energy procurement costs, as the electricity generated from the solar systems is provided at a lower rate than what was previously paid on the market. These savings are especially crucial given that the city had been paying above-market rates for electricity prior to the installation of the PV systems.
In total, the city anticipates a five-figure annual savings from the combination of reduced energy costs and income from the leasing agreements.
Wirsol Roof Solutions installs photovoltaic systems with a total output of 587 kilowatts peak on public buildings in the large district town
Next Steps
Expansion of PV Installations: Following the success of the initial eight installations, Stadt Waghäusel plans to move forward with additional phases. Three more PV systems will be added on city-owned buildings to further increase solar energy production and reduce dependency on external energy sources.
Increased Storage Capacity: The city is exploring the potential to expand battery storage to further increase the rate of self-consumed energy and enhance resilience against grid fluctuations.
Outreach and Inspiration: Stadt Waghäusel’s project has already attracted attention as a model for other municipalities. The city and Wirsol Roof Solutions plan to share their insights and experiences to encourage other cities to adopt similar energy transition initiatives, highlighting the financial and environmental benefits.
“With these first municipal PV systems, we are taking a significant step towards climate-neutral energy generation for our own properties. This has long been an important concern for me, and we will actively continue down this path with further systems for generating energy from renewable energies in our city. ”
“We were able to provide the city with active support with our expertise in advance of the system planning, as the static conditions and historically grown structures of the electrical installations were in some cases very complex. Thanks to thorough preliminary planning, construction began just one week after the lease agreements were signed. We are certain that the city will achieve maximum benefits in terms of economic efficiency and power generation capacity for itself and its citizens with the systems.”