Nunkirchen solar park
Wattner AG's Nunkirchen solar park is located in the Merzig-Wadern district, around 1.3 kilometres east of Wahlen and 1.5 kilometres west of Nunkirchen. The plant was commissioned in 2023 and covers an area of 12.5 hectares. The undeveloped part in the centre of the site is striking. The reason for this are archaeological sites. These are also responsible for why some of the module tables are mounted on concrete feet and not driven into the ground.
Wattner AG
13 MW
12.5 ha
2023
Saarland
49.4845709805 - 6.8072139244
Arable land
Table of contents
| Species groups | Investigated |
|---|---|
| Plants | ✔ |
| Locusts | ✔ |
| Butterfly | ✔ |
| Dragonflies | |
| Reptiles | ✔ |
| Amphibians | |
| Birds | ✔ |
| Bats | ✔ |
| Miscellaneous | ✔ |
✔ = Investigation carried out on behalf of the operators
Natural environment and special features
Saar-Nahe mountain and hill country
The area is largely embedded in a medium-aged mixed forest. To the south-east, a small area of agricultural land adjoins and to the south is the "Weiherhof" golf park. The study area slopes slightly from north-west to south-east. To the south of the site, an unpaved farm track runs alongside the golf park, parallel to which is a dense hedge structure with occasional taller trees (overstorey). There are no notable bodies of water in the immediate vicinity of the course.
The site measures 310 metres above sea level in the western part and 280 metres above sea level in the eastern part. It is located on a slope, sloping towards the east.
No biotope mapped areas. Previously there was arable land. Adjacent to the north-east: small area of sandy grassland
Floor
Podzolic brown earth from base-poor quartzitic sandstones and conglomerates
Clay sands
Construction method
0.5
3.6m
2.7m
17°
3 pieces
The majority of the frames are anchored to the ground using cross-braced piles. Some of the frames were fixed to concrete foundations.
The modules are monocrystalline, monofacial half-cell modules.
In the middle of the site is an archaeological protection zone with wider row spacing and no buildings. No earthworks are carried out in this area. Module tables are not rammed here, but are supported on concrete foundations. The cables were laid either outside this area or above ground.
The different row spacings of 3.62 metres to 8.74 metres in some cases due to the archaeological protection zone are also special.
Management
The Nunkirchen solar park is maintained by sheep grazing. Only the station buildings and inverter locations are mowed twice a year (May and August).
Equalisation measures
The area within the facility must be cultivated as grassland.
The following measures were defined as part of the development plan process:
- Site preparation outside the breeding and setting seasons
- Woodland protection
- Protection of reptiles during construction
- Ecological construction monitoring
- Compliance with soil cultivation specifications
- Minimising the degree of sealing
- Permeability of the fence for small mammals
- Minimising the impact on the landscape
- Near-natural grassland seeding and extensive cultivation within the solar park
- Various compensatory measures in the form of compensation areas for the loss of red kite hunting grounds (permanent clover-grass crops, extensive cultivation, flower strips, etc.)
Details are included in the development plan.
English (UK) 
Deutsch