Today, the ribbon is being cut for a new solar park, where biodiversity, nature restoration, neighborhood and outdoor life are all taken into account from the start. The park will annually produce energy equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 28,000 households.

Residents and visitors to the village of Vedde in Sorø municipality now have a new opportunity for nature and outdoor experiences. This is happening when the energy and fiber network group Andel, together with Sorø municipality, today inaugurates the new solar park, Andel Vedde Solar Park .

In addition to the park's primary purpose – to produce renewable energy and contribute to the green transition – both neighbors and nature have been taken into account in both the planning and construction of the park. The park's natural areas have been designed in dialogue with the Danish Nature Conservation Association, Sorø, and the designated natural areas correspond to an area the size of approximately 36 football fields.

"The solar cell plant itself in Andel Vedde Solar Park will, with an annual production of approximately 110,000 megawatt hours, be Zealand's second largest solar cell park measured in terms of energy production. This corresponds to the consumption of approximately 28,000 average households in Denmark," says Mogens Hagelskær, Head of Renewable Energy at Andel.

The best of both worlds

But it's everything surrounding the solar panels themselves that really makes Andel Vedde Solar Park stand out from more conventional solar parks. And that's what's causing joy locally.

"With Vedde Solar Park we get the best of both worlds. A contribution to the green transition through the production of renewable energy and a natural area that focuses on biodiversity and recreational areas for citizens. This is the basis for the solar park to become a vibrant area where citizens and visitors can enjoy both leisure and outdoor activities," says Mayor of Sorø Municipality, Gert Jørgensen.

The Danish Nature Conservation Association, Sorø, also supports the solar park and the attention that has been paid to nature conservation:

"We welcome the new solar park and are pleased with the constructive dialogue we have had with Andel. Throughout the process, it has been important to DN Sorø that environmental concerns and the production of renewable energy figuratively go hand in hand. And we think we have largely succeeded in doing so with the Vedde Solar Park," states Niels Hilker, chairman of DN in Sorø.

The relationship with neighbors and local communities has been important to Andel.

"It has been the ambition from the start that the park should be adapted to the area in which it is located. Therefore, both the local community and the closest neighbors have been involved in the process and have had an influence on the park's final design, which has therefore also been adjusted along the way," says Mogens Hagelskær.

Business customers are ready

It is not only in Sorø municipality and the local community around Vedde that the new solar park is receiving support. A number of companies have also chosen to support it by entering into agreements to purchase electricity from the park via so-called PPA agreements. In short, a PPA agreement (Power Purchase Agreement) means that a company commits to buying a certain amount of electricity from a specific plant – in this case from Andel Vedde Solar Park.

"While working on the solar park, we have continuously experienced interest in purchasing the renewable energy produced. PPA agreements have therefore been entered into with several major companies. This shows that there is massive support in the Danish business community for real action and green transition," says Mogens Hagelskær from Andel.

Large natural area on the site

In addition to the solar cell plant, natural areas have been laid out on the site of the solar cell park, consisting of existing nature, including forest, bog and lakes, and former agricultural land, where herbs of regional origin have been sown. Trees and shrubs will also be planted later to create variation in the landscape.

The entire natural area is grazed by natural cattle, which contributes to the care of the area and the improvement of biodiversity. The pastures right up to the solar cell plant itself are grazed by approximately 500 sheep.

"Overall, the project includes ambitious planning for both nature, biodiversity and neighborhood, which aligns with Andel's ambitions and requirements for solar cell systems," says Mogens Hagelskær.

For visitors, the area also offers hiking and running trails, observation towers and several table and bench sets where neighbors and visitors can enjoy the outdoors.