Pilot project launched for local energy community in Upper Franconia
Regional green electricity put to the test: Bayernwerk launches pilot project for energy communities
24.02.2025
Source: E & M powernews
An energy sharing project has been launched in the district of Bamberg. Those involved call it a digitalized village store for energy.
Bayernwerk and its parent company Eon have announced the launch of a pilot project for the local generation and use of renewable energy in the municipalities of Frensdorf and Pettstadt in the district of Bamberg. With the signing of a cooperation agreement, the aim is to test for the first time how household customers in smaller communities react to incentives from regionally generated electricity.
As part of the project, 50 household customers will each receive a smart metering system and a specially developed electricity tariff. This tariff is based on the energy generated locally and the actual consumption within the energy community. The "Energy Monitor" from grid operator Bayernwerk records the amount of energy generated every quarter of an hour, while the smart meters document individual consumption. The collected data is visualized via an app that uses a traffic light system to show customers at which times of day the electricity price is likely to be lower or higher or when the local electricity mix will be green and cheap. Bayernwerk board member Egon Leo Westphal calls the approach a "village store principle" for energy, which has now been digitized and brought to life.
Internal Electricity Market Directive is the legal basis
The initiative aims to establish a link between local energy production and use. Mayor Jochen Hack from Pettstadt emphasized the regional added value of the project: "Now energy can be generated regionally and also consumed regionally - that was the main reason why we said yes." And his counterpart from Frensdorf, Mayor Jakobus Kötzner, is certain: "In the future, this will definitely be an issue for everyone."
Energy communities are associations of citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises and local stakeholders who jointly generate, share and use renewable energy. In addition to promoting direct participation, energy sharing should also help to optimize grid utilization and strengthen the energy independence of communities.
At European level, the Internal Electricity Market Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive provide the legal basis for the establishment of energy communities. In countries such as Spain, Austria and Italy, such projects are favored by reduced grid fees or financial incentives. In Germany, community building supply has already been introduced as part of the "Solar Package I". A draft law for energy sharing stipulates that energy sharing within a balancing group will be possible from 2025.
The pilot project in the district of Bamberg is being scientifically supported by the Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft e. V. (FfE). The focus is on investigating the consumption behavior of the participants and the effects on the local electricity grid. Initial results are to be presented as part of a study in order to gain insights into the benefits and challenges of energy communities.
Author: Fritz Wilhelm
