Zerbst (Germany)
Integrating Sustainability Into Large-Scale Solar Construction
Overview
Building Germany’s Largest EEG Solar-Battery Hybrid Power Plant With Nature in Mind
Project Zerbst, situated east of the town of Zerbst/Anhalt, is one of Germany’s most advanced renewable energy projects: a 46.4 MWp solar power plant paired with a 57 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). Developed by Statkraft and built by SUNOTEC, it is not only the company’s first hybrid park in Germany, but also the country’s largest co-located PV and BESS power plant under the EEG Innovation tender to date.
While the project advances Germany’s clean-energy transition, it also demonstrates, in exemplary form, how SUNOTEC incorporates environmental sustainability into every stage of project development, engineering, construction and operations, aligning with SUNOTEC’s Sustainability Strategy.  Working closely with biologist Jan-Peter Rudloff of Entomologische & Herpetologische Arbeiten, biodiversity protection and habitat enhancement were regarded as central project priorities.
Project
Developed by Statkraft and built by SUNOTEC
Key Numbers
0 MWp
Installed Capacity0 MWh
Battery Storage (BESS)0
Households Supply0
Saved Co2 Emissions
Ecological Baseline: A Former Gravel Pit Turned Biodiversity Refuge
The Zerbst project site is a former gravel extraction area situated within an agricultural landscape largely characterised by monoculture and low biodiversity. However, abandoned gravel pits can often develop into rich ecological niches through natural succession and the mosaic of habitats they create.
The site offered a diverse water body featuring shallow and deep zones, shaded and sun-exposed banks, and reed areas, important breeding habitat for waterfowl and shoreline birds, and critical spawning grounds for strictly protected amphibians such as the natterjack toad and the spadefoot toad. The steep sandbanks served as breeding sites for sand martins and European bee-eaters, while the sandy, dry grassland, open sand surfaces, and ruderal vegetation provided essential habitat for the sand lizard. Surrounding fallow fields also acted as breeding grounds for the skylark.
These habitats constituted a valuable ecological enclave within an otherwise species-poor region. Preserving and enhancing them became a key objective of the project.
Defined Conservation Goals
In coordination with the local environmental authority, clear ecological goals were established prior to construction commencement. Key habitats and structures to be preserved or improved included:
- Water and shoreline biotopes
- Sandy, nutrient-poor habitats
- The surrounding sandy embankment with its ruderal vegetation
- Small habitats created for reptiles
- A natural succession area in the northwest
- A steep earth wall
- Field woodlands in the southeast
Additionally, new steep banks were to be created along the shoreline to encourage fresh breeding territories for sand martins and bee-eaters. Upon completion of the construction phase, a perimeter planting of shrubs and young trees would provide long-term habitat value for many species.
Sustainable Design & Long-Term Habitat Protection
Following SUNOTEC’s Develop and Engineer for Sustainability policy, as well as taking into account local specifics and expert guidance, we integrated multiple long-term ecological enhancements into the final layout of the solar park:
- Preservation and improvement of ruderal vegetation on the embankment
- Continued support and protection of the local sand lizard population
- Maintenance of breeding sites for key bird species
- Perimeter vegetation to increase habitat connectivity over time
According to Rudloff, the transformation from an industrial extraction site to a solar energy landscape has created a significantly higher ecological value. Areas previously used for storage, heavy vehicle traffic, or extraction have now become stable and diverse habitats.
In contrast, the surrounding agricultural fields continue to exhibit low ecological quality, underscoring the importance of improvements within the solar park for local biodiversity.
Pre-Construction Measures: Protecting Wildlife From Day One
Before breaking ground, SUNOTEC implemented targeted measures to protect sensitive species:
- Creation of New Breeding Sites: Artificial cliff structures were prepared to encourage nesting opportunities for sand martins and bee-eaters—species known to be highly sensitive to disturbance.
- Amphibian and Reptile Protection Fencing: Temporary fencing prevented animals from entering active construction zones.
- Amphibian Relocation Program: Amphibians were safely collected using bucket traps and transported to their natural breeding areas.
These measures ensured that construction could proceed without endangering protected species.
Defined Conservation Goals
Project Zerbst demonstrates that renewable energy projects and biodiversity protection can—and must—coexist. Through careful planning, close collaboration, and a genuine commitment to environmental stewardship, SUNOTEC has shown that large-scale solar projects can create a lasting, positive, sustainable impact while accelerating the transition to clean, reliable energy.
SUNOTEC thanks Jan-Peter Rudloff for his vital role in supervising ecological measures and supporting the project’s sustainability goals.
Please learn more about SUNOTEC’s sustainability goals and initiatives in our 2024 Sustainability Report at: https://sunotec-group.com/sustainability-report
