FAQ
FAQ
Is it a better idea to plant rapeseed, maize or other types of plants for biomass energy instead of installing a solar park?
No. With a solar park from STARVERT Energy, the same outdoor space can be used to produce a much larger volume of energy. Nor does a solar park take rapeseed or maize out of the food supply, for example. Some solar park designs also make it possible to cultivate hay between the modules.
Can I graze sheep on solar parks from STARVERT Energy?
The substructure of a solar park from STARVERT Energy is designed so that sheep can pass through underneath. In addition, the cables from the solar panels to the central inverter run underground, so that sheep cannot injure themselves on cables.
The installed modules are translucent enough that grass can grow underneath and therefore allow sheep to graze.
Why are sheep not used to maintain the green areas on every solar park from STARVERT Energy?
Not every STARVERT solar park has the right kind of grasses for grazing sheep. For sheep to be able to graze, the animals need enough food, which must be available on the plot of land. Sometimes, it can also be difficult to find a local shepherd to care for the flock.
Do solar modules from STARVERT Energy create glare?
The glare effect from modern solar modules is no greater than that of asphalt. Earlier solar modules – which we still see on roofs today – were worse in this respect. A momentary period of glare will only be seen when the sun is at certain angles in the sky. In general, any glare effect from modules will depend on the module tilt angle and the angle of incidence of the sun, as well as the season and time of day.
Why is the lease for solar parks only agreed for 30 years?
In Germany, agricultural lease agreements can only be concluded for a maximum of 30 years. When this period expires, STARVERT Energy checks to see if an extension is wanted. The substructure of a STARVERT Energy solar park has a service life that is considerably longer than 30 years. It would also be worth reviewing whether the modules could be replaced by more powerful modules. This type of ‘repowering’ approach might need a smaller plot of land, as a result of the more powerful modules available. If the electrical grid can accept the higher yield, more electricity can then be generated with more powerful modules on the same plot.
Who is responsible for ensuring that the solar park is dismantled at the end of its service life?
With a solar park from STARVERT Energy, reserves are set up immediately in the form of bank guarantees. This ensures that dismantling can proceed even in the event of bankruptcy. As of this writing, the proceeds achievable by recycling the high-quality aluminium substructure and the modules are higher than the costs of dismantling.
Won’t there be too much electricity generated anyway in the future?
The idea of a future grid with excess electricity is a popular one. However, STARVERT Energy assumes that electricity consumption will be higher in the future, because EVs and heat pumps need a lot of power. Coal-fired power stations will also be decommissioned. A temporary overproduction of electricity can be mitigated with storage.
How does STARVERT help councils ensure the participation of local citizens?
As part of the planning and construction process, STARVERT Energy wants to ensure that interested citizens are kept in the loop. Our Corporate Communications and Marketing team can work with local councils to organise informational events. Local citizens are also welcome to email their enquiries to STARVERT Energy.
Can the local economy benefit from a solar park?
STARVERT Energy always involves regional businesses in construction. Examples here include civil engineering works, electrical firms for cabling, and fencing specialists. Local landscape gardening firms may be brought in for clearing work or maintenance of the solar park’s green areas.
After completion, regional companies can then sign a power procurement agreement (PPA) to source their electricity from the solar park.
Does the construction of a solar park expose local communities to financial risk?
During the planning and construction phase, no financial risk is born by the community or the owners of the land. STARVERT Energy bears all of the risk here. Following acceptance by an appraiser, owners of land or communities can then invest in the solar park.
Is a solar park very loud?
No. A solar park from STARVERT Energy does not cause any noise pollution. In Kell am See, there is even a 15-hectare solar park standing next to the house of the family that owns the land. This demonstrates the minimal level of noise created by a solar park from STARVERT Energy.
Is a sealed concrete surface required to anchor the substructure?
No. The posts for the aluminium substructure are driven into the ground, which means that the green areas outside access roads suffer minimal damage. The posts are not set in concrete.
Which orientation is best for a solar park: east/west or south-facing?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The orientation of a solar park depends on the topography of the plot of land.
As a general rule, a south-facing orientation generates more electricity around noon. In contrast, an east/west orientation generates more power in the mornings and evenings.
A south-facing orientation means that the modules are further apart for reasons of shading. An east/west orientation means that the modules can stand closer together.
So, the actual plot itself must be used to determine whether a south-facing or east-west orientation would bring a higher energy yield.
How does a solar park cut carbon emissions?
STARVERT Energy is keen to ensure that its carbon accounting is transparent and easy to understand. Our calculations take CO2 savings of 500 g per kWh as a baseline. If the ‘Current Facts about Photovoltaic in Germany’ guideline is followed, savings of approximately 690 g of CO2/kWh can be assumed for photovoltaic power (page 50). We consciously chose a lower value of 500 g CO2 per kWh as a baseline for calculations. Savings are therefore probably higher.
In general, carbon savings will be lower or higher depending on how power is generated. Solar and wind power are low-carbon sources, while lignite and thermal coal produce especially high carbon emissions. Natural gas has yet another carbon footprint. The energy mix in Germany and other European countries is composed of electricity from a range of sources with various weightings. When renewable energy from wind and solar is fed into the grid, this reduces the carbon emissions footprint of a kilowatt hour of power.
Is high-quality arable land wasted by erecting a solar park?
The solar parks from STARVERT Energy prioritise the use of plots of land that have poor-quality soils and therefore low agricultural yields. The aim is to ensure that high-yield arable land is retained for crop cultivation. We also erect our solar parks on landfill or brownfield sites formerly used by manufacturing, mining or the military, or alongside motorways or railways. These soils are contaminated and incur costs for maintenance. Erecting a solar park can generate income for these sites. At the same time, this reduces costs for cleaning up refuse from fly-tipping and for maintaining green areas. With a solar park from STARVERT Energy, a new and improved ecosystem can even start to develop on these plots of land.
How does a solar park work?
A solar park consists of many individual solar modules. When sunlight hits these modules, the solar radiation contained in the light is converted into electricity. Power generation also functions when the sun isn’t shining: even if it is cloudy or raining, indirect sunlight can still be used to produce some electricity. It is particularly important that the modules are not shaded and can collect as much light as possible. The electricity generated in the solar modules then flows through a cable to the inverters, where it is converted from direct current into alternating current. Depending on the size of the plant, the electricity must then be fed into the public electrical grid by a substation. In this way, affordable and regionally sourced power is produced for private households and industrial use.
What are we doing for biodiversity?
Modules from STARVERT Energy do not require a sealed concrete surface. These translucent solar modules are mounted high enough to ensure that plants can easily grow underneath.
Ponds and cairns can be set up on the site, and flowering plant seed can be sown with the aim of strengthening local species diversity.
Site fencing is designed so that small animals and ground-nesting birds can pass underneath, and so make use of the land. Hedges are planted as privacy screens.
Sheep grazing is used to maintain the plot. By combining sustainable power production with the conservation of local flora and fauna, STARVERT Energy ensures that the resulting solar park is in harmony with nature.
Why do we need large solar parks if every house could have solar panels on its roof?
A rooftop solar panel system can supply a home with plenty of electricity. Yet our overall energy needs continue to grow.
Heat pumps, wall boxes, EVs and the use of a wide variety of electronic devices are creating a situation where rooftop systems are no longer adequate.
In the case of apartment buildings, the rooftop space is often too small to produce enough solar power for everyone. Yet the people living here should also be able to buy renewable electricity.
A solar park from STARVERT Energy can supply electricity not only to individual households but also to entire communities and industries based in the region.
Affordable, regionally sourced power should be available to as many people as possible while also helping to provide job security for local manufacturing firms.
What can I do if I have a different question that has not been answered here?
If you have a question that has not been answered, please use the contact form to send us your question. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
