29.01.2024
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
Since January 1, municipalities at all levels in Bavaria have been allowed to build and operate renewable energy plants - even beyond their own requirements. Some districts are taking advantage of this new freedom.
Since January 1, districts and boroughs in Bavaria have also been allowed to "construct and operate renewable energy plants within the scope of their capacity", according to the Munich Ministry of the Interior in response to an inquiry from this editorial team. It refers to the new Article 3 Paragraph 6 of the Bavarian Climate Protection Act.
According to the state constitution, local energy supply has so far been a voluntary matter for cities, markets and municipalities. Now, all municipal levels are allowed to get involved in energy supply, even beyond the properties' and districts' own requirements. The ministry justifies the relaxation with the "overriding public interest of climate protection and the secure availability of affordable renewable energies".
Pioneers in Bavaria are the districts of Haßberge and Wunsiedel. Since 2011, the Kreis Haßberge has been a shareholder in the "Gesellschaft zur Umsetzung erneuerbarer Technologieprojekte im Landkreis Haßberge mbH" (GUT), as have all of its 26 municipalities (we reported). Although GUT does not generate or supply green energy itself, explains a spokesperson for the district, it does project and initiate corresponding power plants and then sells the projects, such as the Sailershausen wind farm.
Haßberge wants to establish a regional plant
The district itself only generates energy for its own properties. This is set to change with the establishment of a regional plant. According to the spokesperson, an inquiry is currently being submitted to the legal supervisory authority regarding the form in which it may participate.
She considers the regional climate pact concluded with 24 municipalities in October 2023 to be a "unique" construct. According to this, the district is to be completely green by 2030. The target for electricity has been achieved since mid-2023, according to Haßfurt.
The special features of the climate pact are "agile" cooperation and themed years with proposed measures for the municipalities. This year it is the turn of municipal heat planning. There are also to be more e-charging stations.
Hydrogen in the Fichtelgebirge
The District of Wunsiedel , in turn, has been involved in the company "Zukunftsenergie Nordostbayern GmbH" (Zenob) with municipalities belonging to the district since 2022. According to Thomas Edelmann from the Fichtelgebirge Development Agency, the aim is "to provide renewable electricity and hydrogen. Independently of this, we will also put PV systems into operation on our own responsibility."
The DPA names other energy-active districts: Ober- and Unterallgäu, Cham, Traunstein and Mühldorf. In 2023, the District of Oberallgäu founded the "Oberallgäu Energy Company" with 21 of its 28 municipalities, which is dedicated to renewable energy generation. District Administrator Indra Baier-Müller (Free Voters) believes that the foundation compensates for spatial and financial differences in the district. "Not every municipality can afford its own wind turbine," she says. The neighboring Landkreis Unterallgäu wants to decide on the establishment of an energy supplier in 2025.
Projects "from preliminary inquiry to fully planned"
In May 2023, the Landkreis Cham founded "Regionalwerke Landkreis Cham GmbH" together with four other municipalities, which in turn is preparing the establishment of a municipal energy company. According to the district administration office, a total of 37 out of 39 municipalities had previously signaled their approval to join.
The regional plants have projects "from preliminary inquiry to technically and economically fully planned", according to an official spokesperson. As in Oberallgäu, energy storage will be a central topic in the Bavarian Forest alongside PV systems and wind power.
The District of Traunstein has commissioned Chiemgau GmbH to investigate the energy transition potential in the region. In cooperation with the Mühldorf district , a wind power potential measurement is also currently taking place, according to the district office.
No overview
Neither the Ministry of the Interior nor the Ministry of Economic Affairs have an overview of how many districts are also launching energy suppliers - the establishment of district and regional plants only has to be reported to the legal supervisory authority, but not approved. However, the department of Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) stated that "the development is currently still very much in flux".
In the German territorial states, districts have often been the founders of regional utilities since the 19th century, as can still be seen today in the shareholder structures of EnBW and Oldenburg-based EWE. Even after several inquiries within weeks, the German Association of Counties was unable to tell this editorial team what the scope of the energy industry is for counties outside Bavaria.
Author: Georg Eble
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