Solar modules easily make it onto Hesse's monuments

23.01.2025

Source: E & M powernews

Solar installations have a good standing in Hesse if they are to be built on or near cultural monuments. The state government speaks of a 99 percent approval rate.

The result of 1,042:15 could hardly be clearer. The colon is preceded by approved solar installations on or on top of listed buildings, followed by power plants rejected in the context of cultural monuments. The setting is Hesse.

In January, the SPD-led Ministry of Science and Research, Art and Culture (HMWK) responded to a parliamentary question from the Green parliamentary group in the Hessian state parliament. According to this, there were a total of 1,057 applications for solar installations on cultural monuments between the beginning of 2023 and the end of April 2024. The approval authorities only rejected 15 of these. This corresponds to around 99 percent of successful applications.

From the HMWK's perspective, the figures indicate "that solar energy on cultural monuments is generally approved and there are only a few exceptions". Culture Minister Timon Gremmels (SPD) also sees the statistics as a success of the work of the Black-Red government in Hesse. From a chronological perspective, first a change in the law and then a guideline and handout ensured the desired expansion of monuments.

Directive and handout from the state a hit

The law is a reform of the Hessian monument protection law passed in 2016. § Since then, Section 9 (1) sentence 3 has obliged the monument authorities to give special consideration to climate and resource protection in their decisions. This was followed in October 2022 by a directive from the HMWK, according to which monument protection alone should not be a reason for refusing solar installations.

This directive should be seen in the context of the energy crisis, which, according to the ministry, has triggered an "acute need for action" in the area of conflict between listed buildings and solar energy. The directive therefore helps the energy transition "to be successfully implemented". Finally, a handout in brochure form based on the directive has brought momentum to the expansion of solar energy on monuments. The number of approved installations has "increased massively" and other federal states such as Rhineland-Palatinate have now adopted the brochure.

According to Minister Gremmels, the directive has also ensured greater speed in the planning and approval process. However, as the guideline has no legal status, the state government is also considering an amendment to the Hessian Monument Protection Act. According to the SPD politician in his answer to the Greens' question, this could provide greater legal and planning certainty for all parties involved.

Author: Volker Stephan