Deutsche Bahn (DB), through its subsidiary DB Energie, has entered two long-duration power purchase agreements with Blue Elephant Energy GmbH (BEE) for the supply of around 2.5 TWh of solar power. The power will come from two large solar projects planned in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Both projects are scheduled to become operational by mid-2027, and the contracted volume is estimated to cover roughly 14 million ICE train kms annually.
The agreements run for up to 13 years and are intended to support the implementation of both solar projects. Both projects will cumulatively generate more than 300 GWh of electricity annually. The Bavarian project, with a capacity of 266 MWp, will reportedly become Germany’s second-largest solar park once completed and will comprise approximately 370,000 modules. It will be supported by a dedicated substation and an associated battery energy storage system (BESS). The Baden-Württemberg project will have a capacity of 53 MWp.
Deutsche Bahn currently sources around 70 per cent of its rail electricity from renewable power, compared to a national green electricity share of approximately 59 per cent. The company’s renewable portfolio includes offshore and onshore wind as well as solar projects across the country, and has also started incorporating BESS projects since 2024, with the first two units scheduled to begin operations in 2026.
