Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki is particularly pleased that the solar-generated electricity on the roof of his home and work building will avoid around 59,000 kg of CO2 per year. “As Christians, we have responsibility for creation – for God’s beautiful garden. This is easy to see for anyone who reads the Bible. Pope Francis clearly warns of the negative consequences of a negligent and completely excessive treatment of creation.”
The archbishop says that the many opportunities to move forward as the Archdiocese of Cologne and take responsibility for future generations make him optimistic. “The areas that we can lease according to ecological criteria, the roofs of the many schools, daycare centers and parish buildings that we can use for photovoltaic systems and all the new heating systems that we are currently installing: They are not only sustainable, but “We also save costs. There are also many positive side effects of becoming climate-friendly.”
Lots of potential for climate-friendly electricity generation
Since the photovoltaics team in the Creation Responsibility Department was strengthened with two additional speakers last year, the pace of installation of photovoltaic systems (PV systems) has increased significantly. Much to the delight of Dr. Christian Weingarten, environmental officer in the Archdiocese of Cologne: “There are currently 51 systems in operation and 13 under construction. Our team also looks after over 130 systems in the planning phase and is processing over 80 inquiries.” This makes him confident that the vision is within reach, says Weingarten.
There is still considerable potential for climate-friendly electricity generation on the roofs of parish and diocese buildings. Of a possible 50 megawatt peak on the buildings mentioned, the Archdiocese of Cologne has so far tapped two percent. Project manager Maria Moura sums it up: “We are on the right track, but there is still a lot to do. Our work shows that we as an archdiocese can really make a difference and contribute to the ecological transition. Because every kilowatt of electricity we… Producing in a climate-friendly way is a win for the environment and our communities.”
The Archdiocese of Cologne is one of the most important dioceses in Germany. With around 1.9 million Catholics, it has the most members, followed by Münster, Freiburg and Rottenburg-Stuttgart (around 1.8 million each). The assets are around 3.8 billion euros. This puts Cologne in third place behind Paderborn (7.15 billion euros) and Munich-Freising (6.1 billion euros).
