Münster Airport starts sustainable project: Largest PV system in NRW!

Münster Airport starts sustainable project: Largest PV system in NRW!

An exciting turnaround in the Münster/Osnabrück region: Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) recently took the first step towards converting a large area that was once intended for the extension of the runway. On October 24, 2025, the Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Oliver Krischer, handed over the official cancellation notice to the Managing Director of the FMO, Prof. Dr. Rainer Schwarz. This means that the area will be rededicated for the construction of an extensive photovoltaic system, which was approved for the use of a solar system in the new Münsterland regional plan in summer 2023.

“We want to establish the FMO as a sustainable transport location,” says Prof. Dr. Black. With the largest photovoltaic system planned in North Rhine-Westphalia covering an area of ​​70 hectares, this is likely to be an important step. In addition to the photovoltaic system, the airport will also gradually convert its fleet to electric mobility. The FMO already sources its electricity exclusively from renewable sources and has reduced CO2 emissions by 90 percent over the last 15 years.

Agri-photovoltaics in Amelsbüren

A further step towards sustainable energy production is taking place with the new agri-solar park in Amelsbüren, which is being built on 13.2 hectares on Hartmannsbrook Street. This system is being implemented by EcotecWorld and has an output of 4,875 kWp. Annual electricity generation is expected to be around 5.75 gigawatt hours of green electricity, which includes a direct connection to the Fraunhofer FFB in the Hansa Business Park.

What is considered particularly innovative: The agri-solar park will be raised close to the ground and equipped with modern 2P tracking systems that use sensors to optimally align the solar modules with the sun. Only 12.7 percent of agricultural land is being built over; the rest remains used to grow grain, rapeseed and faba beans. This shows how efficient use of space works in practice. Farmer Heinz-Georg Hartmann, the idea behind the project, and operations manager Julian Hartmann emphasize the responsibility for the energy transition and the positive effects that solar modules can have on the microclimate.

Photovoltaics in transition

These developments are part of a larger trend in Germany, where the use of photovoltaics (PV) is being strongly promoted. As the Federal Environment Agency reports, photovoltaic systems can quickly help advance the energy transition. The systems are not only efficient, but also pay for themselves in terms of energy within one to two years. What is particularly noteworthy is that the costs of solar systems have been reduced by over 90 percent since 2000, making them an economically attractive option.

At a time when the need for clean energy is constantly growing, projects such as the photovoltaic system at Münster/Osnabrück Airport and the Agri-Solar Park in Amelsbüren offer promising prospects for the future. The combination of sustainable energy production with efficient use of space shows that innovative thinking can actually bear fruit.