How does the energy transition succeed in Germany? And what does that mean for regions like Mainfranken? When it comes to climate protection, switching to renewable energies is key. Other factors play a role, as the government of Lower Franconia emphasizes: energy savings, greater efficiency and storage. The energy transition can only be achieved if clear successes are achieved in all of these areas.
But wind power has run out of air in recent years and its expansion in the region has practically come to a standstill. This is also due to dense settlements or valuable landscapes. Experts agree that the biggest obstacle is the 10H rule.
Wind power: Strongly slowed down by the 10H regulation
Since 2014, new wind turbines in Bavaria have been required to be at least ten times their height from residential buildings. Instead of 100 meters as in the past, modern systems are 200 to 250 meters high, so they have to be more than two kilometers away from houses. The result: In Lower Franconia there are hardly any suitable areas for expanding wind power.
The municipalities, which are responsible for the land-use planning, can allow a shorter distance to residential houses. But those politically responsible mostly shy away from resistance from residents and citizens’ initiatives. Species protection also slows down wind power.
In the Free State, wind power had a share of 6.7 percent of all energy sources at the end of 2019. There are currently 258 wind turbines in operation in Lower Franconia, most of them in the Wrzburg district (71). 27 further plants have been approved. This puts the district at the top in Bavaria after Upper Franconia with 287 systems.
Photovoltaics: Large solar parks cause discussions in the communities
“Photovoltaics has much more potential for expansion in renewable energies on roof surfaces and partly in large open-space systems,” says Oliver Weidlich, head of state and regional planning at the government of Lower Franconia. For wind power, they have already checked which areas in the region are good and which are less suitable. Such planning aids are also currently being developed for the municipalities for photovoltaics.
In any case, the industry is booming, more and more investors are planning some huge solar parks in cooperation with municipalities or private individuals. Current examples can be found in Kirchheim and Darstadt (both districts of Wrzburg), Oberleichtersbach in the Bad Kissingen district, Erlenbach in Main-Spessart, Drrnhof and Bundorf in Rhn-Grabfeld or Rentweinsdorf in the Habergen. 282 such open-space systems are already on the grid in Lower Franconia. So there is growing concern that uncontrolled growth will spoil the landscape. “Get in front of the wave” is the government’s motto. That means: Determine compatible locations and plan them in such a way that agriculturally or ecologically valuable areas are not lost.
At the end of 2019, the share of photovoltaics (PV) in Bavarian electricity generation was 16.1 percent. In four years it should be loud Energy program 22 to 25 percent. Basically, Lower Franconia has the best conditions for further expansion with an average of 1500 to 1600 hours of sunshine per year. According to the state development program, it should, if possible, take place in “preloaded” locations such as on motorways.
In the regional plans for the Wrzburg and Main-Rhn area, photovoltaic systems are primarily provided on roof surfaces or within residential areas. This is one of the reasons why the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs has been promoting overbe for two years 10,000-Houses Program the private generation of solar power: There is a subsidy for the purchase of a power storage unit in connection with a new PV system. The Free State will provide 27.5 million euros for this in 2021 alone.
The government of Lower Franconia is responsible for processing all of Northern Bavaria and can hardly keep up with the processing. “The program has been very well received, and the number of applications has exceeded all expectations,” says spokesman Johannes Hardenacke. In his July climate statement, Prime Minister Markus Sder (CSU) announced that the 10,000-house program would be doubled. 40,000 private storage systems are to be funded in the coming year.
Stadtwerk Hafurt: Exemplary for the ecological energy transition
Stadtwerk Hafurt is regarded as a pioneer in the region when it comes to the energy transition. They now produce more electricity from renewable energies than they consume on site. Managing director Nobert Zsch has ambitious goals and sees opportunities for further expansion “if the political framework conditions are right”.
Zsch calls for simpler procedures with less bureaucracy and fewer requirements. It is currently far too complicated for private individuals to install a PV system on the roof. The same applies to larger open-space systems, for example on railway lines: “You have to plan two years from planning to approval with all the necessary reports, that’s too long.” The Stadtwerk manager also criticizes the 10H rule for wind power: “You can’t rely on green energy, but you don’t want to build the plants for it.”
For the graduate engineer, the energy transition only works if wind and solar energy are expanded: “We need both”. Ultimately, even in the autumn and winter months with little sunshine, ko-electricity should be generated if Zsch has its way, in the future also through the use of hydrogen. It is still relatively expensive, but he expects a change in this area in the next few years.
Stadtwerk Hafurt already operates 13 wind turbines with an annual production of 60 million kilowatt hours of electricity, and more are to be expected. In addition, there are already photovoltaics, hydropower and biogas.
The managing director believes that the expansion should not be left to private investors. He advises municipalities to take the energy transition into their own hands on a decentralized basis, if only for economic reasons: “It pays off.” Although the feed-in tariff has fallen sharply, the systems have become significantly cheaper and more powerful.
Often there is a lack of human resources in the town hall, says the Hafurter Stadtwerk boss: “Actually, every municipality needs someone who takes care of the ecological expansion.” Zsch is convinced that there is a greater willingness among the population than in politics: “There are now citizens’ decisions not against, but in favor of new wind turbines.”
The topic of energy change in the election programs of the parties
CDU / CSU: The Union relies on an “intelligent energy mix”. Renewable energies should be expanded with planning security, acceptance by the population and less bureaucracy. With a “solar package”, the CDU and CSU want to promote photovoltaics, as well as the expansion of wind power with the explicit designation of areas. Above all, they should be checked along existing traffic routes. Energy storage should also be promoted. Attractive programs for building renovation are to be put in place to increase energy efficiency. The Union wants to extend the tax incentives to rented and commercial real estate. The Union places one focus on the expansion of hydrogen technology. The CSU does not go into the energy transition in its own additional election program.
Alliance 90 / The Greens: For the party, the energy transition is a key issue that is at the forefront of the election manifesto. The Greens want to achieve a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels with an “energy revolution”. To this end, they are planning a massive expansion offensive for renewable energies, with expansion barriers to be removed. The party formulates concrete expansion targets for wind power and photovoltaics for the coming years. Furthermore, energy should be saved through more efficiency in buildings, vehicles or in production. Solar panels on public, private and commercial buildings are set to become standard. The goal is 1.5 million new solar panels by 2025. In rural areas, photovoltaics are to be expanded mainly on areas that have already been sealed. For the future, the Greens are also relying on hydrogen technology as an important building block.
SPD: The party has written climate neutrality in Germany for the year 2045 in the program, the electricity should come entirely from renewable energy sources by 2040 at the latest. They are to be “resolutely” expanded in connection with more energy efficiency, the development of storage technologies and the production of hydrogen. The SPD considers this to be a key to climate neutrality. The party describes the expansion of renewables as the “heart” of its climate protection and energy policy; local citizens are to be involved through energy cooperatives, for example. Binding expansion targets are to be agreed in a future pact between the federal government, the federal states and the municipalities. The SPD also wants to promote climate-friendly building renovation and the installation of PV systems on as many roofs as possible.
FDP: The energy transition is not a priority for the Liberals. In its election manifesto, the party underlines the importance of new storage technologies. Electricity storage is seen as a prerequisite for the success of the energy transition; it should be exempt from taxes and surcharges. For the FDP, electricity from renewable sources is only one of several aspects in a “holistic energy system”. The FDP wants to leave the expansion of renewable energies completely to market competition, the EEG surcharge is to be abolished. The party places particular emphasis on hydrogen technology and smart, digital technologies in the energy transition.
The left: According to the program, the party wants to switch to renewable energies as soon as possible, phase out coal by 2030 and pass a law to phase out natural gas. In doing so, it is proceeding diametrically to the FDP: energy companies are to be “disempowered”, the energy transition is to take place in the hands of the citizens in public or cooperative ownership. Germany should be climate neutral as early as 2035. The transition should be designed as socially acceptable as possible. Like the Greens, the Left has specific targets for the expansion of renewable energies in the coming years. Hydrogen should only be used where there are no more efficient alternatives.
AfD: The party also denies man-made climate change in its election manifesto. The AfD rejects the reduction of CO2 emissions to zero as well as a complete switch to renewable energies and the promotion of electromobility and hydrogen technology. For wind turbines, a distance of at least 2.5 kilometers from the nearest residential area is required. The party advocates the continued use of natural gas and the continued generation of electricity from brown and hard coal.
Source: Electoral programs / aj
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