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Expansion of wind energy and photovoltaic systems: Taking advantage of opportunities for rural areas

Lead Institute lv Rural Studies
  • Rural Areas
  • Policy for rural areas

In a recent statement, the German Advisory Council of Rural Development (SRLE) at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) explains how the opportunities for people and communities associated with the expansion of renewable energies can be better exploited.

Large wind turbines stand in the middle of many yellow-brown fields and a few trees
© Frank Preiß - preiss-foto.de

Wind turbines in an agricultural landscape

Transforming the energy system is a long-term task. However, it is also an urgent task if we are to meet the agreed climate change targets. Rapid action is required. “The expansion of wind energy and photovoltaic systems is primarily taking place in rural areas,” says Prof. Dr. Peter Weingarten, Director of the Thünen Institute of Rural Areas and member of the SRLE. “Maintaining and improving acceptance for the expansion of renewable energies is a basic prerequisite for the long-term success of the transformation of the energy system.” The SRLE therefore recommends maintaining local control over site planning, involving local authorities and citizens in value creation and ensuring spatially fair grid fees and appropriate compensation payments to municipalities for new power lines.

Specifically, the SRLE makes the following recommendations for the federal government, federal states and local authorities:

Recommendations for maintaining local control over site planning

  • The federal and state governments should support and enable municipalities to make strategic use of their planning and control powers.
  • Regional and municipal planning authorities must think more closely about siting decisions for wind energy and photovoltaic systems.
  • In appropriate locations, areas should be used simultaneously for wind energy and photovoltaic systems.
  • The potential for photovoltaic systems on roofs, walls, sealed and brownfield sites should be exploited as a priority.
  • The strengtening of the obligation to install photovoltaic systems on buildings must be accelerated.
Several people, including Federal Minister Özdemir and Peter Weingarten from the Thünen Institute, sit around a table
© BMEL
Presentation of the statement to Federal Minister Özdemir

Recommendations for the financial participation of municipalities and citizens

  • Municipalities and citizens must be better informed and supported.
  • Citizen energy companies should be strengthened and actively supported.
  • The principle of exclusivity in the breakdown of trade tax should be abolished.
  • The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) should be amended to include mandatory participation.
  • Where this is not regulated by federal law, or in addition to this, the federal states should enact participation regulations under state law.
  • The framework conditions for wind energy and photovoltaic systems in municipal ownership must be improved.

Recommendations for spatially fair grid fees and appropriate compensation payments to municipalities for new power lines

  • The regulation of electricity network charges must ensure a fair distribution of network costs.
  • Municipalities must receive appropriate compensation from transmission system operators for the area occupied by electricity lines.

 

The entire statement (in German language) is available here.

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