PRESS RELEASE
from Blue Elephant Energy GmbH
Blue Elephant Energy takes over substation from Bayernwerk Netz – State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt visits the Schafhöfen solar park
EQS-Media / 04.11.2026 / 08:37 CET/CEST
Construction of Bavaria’s largest solar park is proceeding according to plan. With the handover of the newly built substation from Bayernwerk Netz GmbH, Blue Elephant Energy GmbH (BEE) has reached another important milestone. At the same time, the company is already preparing for the next stage of development: integrating battery storage systems into the site.
Mötzing/Schafhöfen, 29. October 2026
Around five months after the ground-breaking ceremony, those involved in the Schafhöfen solar park project in the municipality of Mötzing (Regensburg district) were able to celebrate their first milestone: the substation for feeding solar power into the high-voltage grid was officially handed over. Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary at the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, visited the solar park on this occasion and was briefed on-site about the progress of construction. With a planned capacity of around 268 megawatt-peak (MWp), Schafhöfen is Bavaria’s largest solar park and ranks among the largest ground-mounted photovoltaic plants in Germany.
Construction is fully on schedule
Malte Hippe, Chief Operating Officer at BEE, outlined the current status of the work together with the EPC partner GOLDBECK SOLAR GmbH. Since the ground-breaking ceremony in May 2026, construction has been progressing rapidly and according to plan. BEE expects the solar park to be commissioned in the summer of 2027.
Ceremonial handover of the keys at the substation
The highlight of the event was the official handover of the newly constructed 110-kV substation by Bayernwerk Netz GmbH to BEE. Two new transformers with a total capacity of 250 megavolt-amperes will in future step up the solar power to high voltage. This construction project, too, was completed successfully and on schedule. The substation is scheduled to be commissioned next week. Dr Nick Seeger, Managing Director of Bayernwerk Netz, symbolically presented Malte Hippe with the key to the substation. This fulfils a key prerequisite for the solar park’s integration into the grid.
Malte Hippe, COO of Blue Elephant Energy:
“Construction of the Schafhöfen solar park is right on schedule; the handover of the substation marks the achievement of a key milestone. This has only been possible thanks to the excellent cooperation between all project partners and the authorities. With the planned expansion of a battery storage facility, we are now developing the site from a solar park into a hybrid energy site.”
Dr. Nick Seeger, Managing Director of Bayernwerk Netz:
“The Schafhöfen solar park serves as a flagship project: in terms of its size, the speed of its implementation and, as the next step, the improvement in system compatibility. We at Bayernwerk Netz GmbH are proud to have made our contribution by planning, obtaining planning permission for and constructing the largest feed-in substation we have ever built, all within a short timeframe.
Such speed is only possible through strong partnerships with a shared goal. Many thanks to everyone involved, particularly the planning authorities, Blue Elephant Energy, GOLDBECK SOLAR and Wibres.”
From solar park to energy hub
With the solar park and the substation, the infrastructure for the next stage of development is now in place. BEE intends to develop Schafhöfen into a hybrid energy hub and presented the relevant plans during the visit. The aim is to feed the solar power generated into the grid flexibly and in line with demand in future, thereby making a further contribution to security of supply and grid stability in the region.
As a first step, BEE is planning a green electricity battery storage system that will be connected directly to the solar park and will store only electricity generated on-site. As a second step, a grey electricity storage system is planned, which will also be able to draw electricity from the public grid, thereby providing the electricity system with further flexibility.
Partnership as a key to success
Those involved agreed that the energy transition will succeed and make rapid progress if politicians, local authorities, grid operators and businesses engage in dialogue at an early stage and work together as partners. The Schafhöfen solar park is a prime example of this approach; the excellent cooperation with the municipality of Mötzing, led by Mayor Reinhard Knott, the planning department and Bayernwerk Netz, has brought the project to the stage where it is ready for approval in less than 24 months.
About Bayernwerk Netz GmbH:
For 100 years, Bayernwerk Netz GmbH has been ensuring a reliable energy supply in Bavaria. As the largest regional distribution network operator, the company operates a modern electricity, gas and street lighting network and is driving forward the expansion of renewable energies and the digitalisation of the networks. Around seven million people are supplied via an electricity network stretching 156,000 kilometres and a gas network stretching 6,000 kilometres. Already, 96 per cent of the electricity distributed comes from renewable sources on a net basis. The company is headquartered in Regensburg; Bayernwerk Netz GmbH is a subsidiary of Bayernwerk AG.
About Blue Elephant Energy GmbH:
Blue Elephant Energy (BEE) specialises in the development, acquisition and operation of solar and onshore wind farms, as well as battery storage solutions. Its business activities are focused on the European market. Since its foundation in 2016, BEE has developed into a leading independent power producer (IPP). The current portfolio comprises 2,4 GW. With a diverse, cross-technology project pipeline and comprehensive expertise across the entire value chain, BEE is laying the foundations for further dynamic growth and the consistent expansion of its portfolio.
Contact
Blue Elephant Energy GmbH
Stephanie Schmidt
Jungfernstieg 51
20354 Hamburg
Fon: +49 40 320 27 21 0
Fax: +49 40 320 27 21 02
E-Mail: IR@blueelephantenergy.com
Mötzing/Schafhöfen, 29. October 2026
Around five months after the ground-breaking ceremony, those involved in the Schafhöfen solar park project in the municipality of Mötzing (Regensburg district) were able to celebrate their first milestone: the substation for feeding solar power into the high-voltage grid was officially handed over. Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary at the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, visited the solar park on this occasion and was briefed on-site about the progress of construction. With a planned capacity of around 268 megawatt-peak (MWp), Schafhöfen is Bavaria’s largest solar park and ranks among the largest ground-mounted photovoltaic plants in Germany.
Construction is fully on schedule
Malte Hippe, Chief Operating Officer at BEE, outlined the current status of the work together with the EPC partner GOLDBECK SOLAR GmbH. Since the ground-breaking ceremony in May 2026, construction has been progressing rapidly and according to plan. BEE expects the solar park to be commissioned in the summer of 2027.
Ceremonial handover of the keys at the substation
The highlight of the event was the official handover of the newly constructed 110-kV substation by Bayernwerk Netz GmbH to BEE. Two new transformers with a total capacity of 250 megavolt-amperes will in future step up the solar power to high voltage. This construction project, too, was completed successfully and on schedule. The substation is scheduled to be commissioned next week. Dr Nick Seeger, Managing Director of Bayernwerk Netz, symbolically presented Malte Hippe with the key to the substation. This fulfils a key prerequisite for the solar park’s integration into the grid.
Malte Hippe, COO of Blue Elephant Energy:
“Construction of the Schafhöfen solar park is right on schedule; the handover of the substation marks the achievement of a key milestone. This has only been possible thanks to the excellent cooperation between all project partners and the authorities. With the planned expansion of a battery storage facility, we are now developing the site from a solar park into a hybrid energy site.”
Dr. Nick Seeger, Managing Director of Bayernwerk Netz:
“The Schafhöfen solar park serves as a flagship project: in terms of its size, the speed of its implementation and, as the next step, the improvement in system compatibility. We at Bayernwerk Netz GmbH are proud to have made our contribution by planning, obtaining planning permission for and constructing the largest feed-in substation we have ever built, all within a short timeframe.
Such speed is only possible through strong partnerships with a shared goal. Many thanks to everyone involved, particularly the planning authorities, Blue Elephant Energy, GOLDBECK SOLAR and Wibres.”
From solar park to energy hub
With the solar park and the substation, the infrastructure for the next stage of development is now in place. BEE intends to develop Schafhöfen into a hybrid energy hub and presented the relevant plans during the visit. The aim is to feed the solar power generated into the grid flexibly and in line with demand in future, thereby making a further contribution to security of supply and grid stability in the region.
As a first step, BEE is planning a green electricity battery storage system that will be connected directly to the solar park and will store only electricity generated on-site. As a second step, a grey electricity storage system is planned, which will also be able to draw electricity from the public grid, thereby providing the electricity system with further flexibility.
Partnership as a key to success
Those involved agreed that the energy transition will succeed and make rapid progress if politicians, local authorities, grid operators and businesses engage in dialogue at an early stage and work together as partners. The Schafhöfen solar park is a prime example of this approach; the excellent cooperation with the municipality of Mötzing, led by Mayor Reinhard Knott, the planning department and Bayernwerk Netz, has brought the project to the stage where it is ready for approval in less than 24 months.
About Bayernwerk Netz GmbH:
For 100 years, Bayernwerk Netz GmbH has been ensuring a reliable energy supply in Bavaria. As the largest regional distribution network operator, the company operates a modern electricity, gas and street lighting network and is driving forward the expansion of renewable energies and the digitalisation of the networks. Around seven million people are supplied via an electricity network stretching 156,000 kilometres and a gas network stretching 6,000 kilometres. Already, 96 per cent of the electricity distributed comes from renewable sources on a net basis. The company is headquartered in Regensburg; Bayernwerk Netz GmbH is a subsidiary of Bayernwerk AG.
About Blue Elephant Energy GmbH:
Blue Elephant Energy (BEE) specialises in the development, acquisition and operation of solar and onshore wind farms, as well as battery storage solutions. Its business activities are focused on the European market. Since its foundation in 2016, BEE has developed into a leading independent power producer (IPP). The current portfolio comprises 2,4 GW. With a diverse, cross-technology project pipeline and comprehensive expertise across the entire value chain, BEE is laying the foundations for further dynamic growth and the consistent expansion of its portfolio.
Contact
Blue Elephant Energy GmbH
Stephanie Schmidt
Jungfernstieg 51
20354 Hamburg
Fon: +49 40 320 27 21 0
Fax: +49 40 320 27 21 02
E-Mail: IR@blueelephantenergy.com
End of Media Release
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Issuer: Blue Elephant Energy GmbH
Key word(s): Energy
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