North-Rhine Westphalia to Advocate for Increased Use of Floating Solar Panels in the Federal Council
The Environment Ministry in North-Rhine Westphalia has announced that it will push for more flexible regulations in the Federal Council to allow for a greater use of photovoltaic panels on artificial water bodies. The current regulations in the Water Management Act, which set general area and distance limits, severely restrict the use of such installations.
The motion from North-Rhine Westphalia is calling for the federal government to introduce more ecological and economically viable regulations. The state’s Environment Minister, Oliver Krischer, stated that larger installations are more cost-effective and that the low-lying Rhine region, with its numerous artificial lakes, offers a prime location for a space-saving and on-site electricity generation. The state’s Economics Minister, Mona Neubaur, added that floating solar panels could be a key component in the transition to a renewable energy system.
Currently, six floating solar panel installations are already in operation in North-Rhine Westphalia, including the largest one in Bislich, with a capacity of 5.6 megawatts. The Quarzwerke companies in Haltern am See and Coesfeld, as well as the University of Düsseldorf, are also planning similar projects.
The motion from North-Rhine Westphalia will now be sent to the relevant committees for discussion and could be agreed upon in the Federal Council before the summer break.