Solar park between Heimstettner See and A 99

Created: 08/09/2022, 05:30

By: Bert Brosch

Young entrepreneur: Franz Glasl would like to generate enough electricity for half of Kirchheim on his field.

© Dieter Michaelek

Farmer Franz Glasl wants to cover 44 percent of Kirchheim's electricity needs with his startup 'Neoampere'.

With a photovoltaic system on 20 hectares between Heimstettner See and the A99.

Kirchheim

– Farmer Franz Glasl (29) only founded his start-up “Neoampere” at the end of June.

"Above all, I want to show farmers how they can generate energy sensibly and give them advice," says Glasl.

His first project is on his own field, between "Fidsche", as the Heimstetten lake is called locally, and the A 99: the Heimstetten energy park.

Franz Glasl sits on the Kirchheim municipal council

Franz Glasl is a municipal councilor for the Junge Union (JU), studied agriculture at the University of Applied Sciences in Weihenstephan and then trained intensively in the field of renewable energies.

"We need solutions very quickly on how we want to generate energy," says Glasl.

He wants to advise municipalities and companies on how they can plan PV systems on their roofs or over parking lots and how they can build and operate these systems.

“Above all, I am concerned with my farming colleagues, who are often skeptical about whether they should rely on biogas, wind turbines or photovoltaics.

I want to give them the best possible advice and then build the systems with them and provide technical support,” says Glasl.

Glas founded the company "Neoampere".

He founded the company "Neoampere" for this purpose.

He is still alone, but is already in close contact with banks, energy consultants and farmers.

"We want to be the energetic link between large energy companies and private agricultural property owners with great regional added value." Glasl's first project, which he presented to the Kirchheim building committee, is the Heimstetten energy park.

A field between Heimstettener See and the A 99 is almost completely owned by Glasl

“The field between Heimstettener See, the 'Fidsche', and the A 99 is almost entirely mine.

I want to build a solar park with an output of 23.5 megawatts on a good 20 hectares,” says Glasl.

With this amount of electricity he can cover 44 percent of Kirchheim's electricity consumption.

"At the moment, only seven percent is generated by PV systems, far too little." Glasl would like to invest around 15 million euros in this.

Since he expects a building permit period of about a year, the solar modules would then definitely be available.

"Of course I hope it goes faster."

As little surface sealing as possible

It is important to Franz Glasl to treat agricultural land with respect.

The surface sealing of the Heimstetten energy park is less than one percent of the total area, it is only necessary for transformer stations.

“The elevation of the PV system is simply rammed into the ground.

Due to our larger spaces between the rows of modules, there is much more space for nature.

This is the opportunity for humus build-up through dormancy and agricultural use by sheep, chickens or bees," explains Glasl.

A five-meter strip of greenery all around is both a privacy screen and a habitat for birds and insects.

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E-bike charging stations and generation of hydrogen from electricity overproduction

The young entrepreneur is also planning e-bike charging stations and the generation of hydrogen from excess electricity production.

“Due to the regional generation and regional consumption of energy, no new power lines are necessary.

Since generation takes place where consumption takes place, there is no risk of energy loss and there is no risk of the system being switched off if the power grids are overloaded,” says Glasl.

Local councils are positive about the project

The municipal councils are consistently positive about the project, Mayor Maximilian Böltl (CSU) asked that the paths to the Fidsche should not be impaired by the solar park.

"A second row of trees from Heimstetten to the lake would further enhance the path through a shady avenue, and hedges around the PV system so that it is not so visible would be nice," he suggested.