German investment firm Hansainvest Real Assets has launched a 605MW solar power plant in Witznitz, near Leipzig, Germany.

It is the largest operational photovoltaic project in Europe. And before it was put into use, The largest solar installation in Europe was the 500MW Nunez de Balboa project spanning the three cities of Usagre, Hinojosa del Valle and Bienvenida in the Extremadura region of southern Spain.

At the site of the new power plant, project developer Move On Energy plans to install an additional 45MW in 2024. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Witznitz project was held in June 2022 and was successfully completed in less than two years.

Move On Energy has deployed about 1.1 million solar panels on the 500-hectare site of the Witznitz II open-pit lignite mine. New cycling lanes were also built as part of the project.

Hansainvest Real Assets also plans to test "parallel agricultural uses in the area below the solar module" and has set up a test area of five to 10 hectares for this purpose.

In 2023, the investment company entered into a long-term power purchase agreement with Shell Energy Europe to purchase solar power from the plant.