In view of the advancing climate change, it was already clear well before February 24 that there was no alternative to an energy transition. Since the Russian attack on Ukraine and the associated uncertainty about how the world’s energy supply will continue, the change of course has become even more urgent. There is also a lot of potential in the district of Ebersberg, whether photovoltaics, wind power or deep geothermal energy. Small working and action groups in particular bring a lot forward here – within the scope of their possibilities – as the examples from Oberpframmern, Vaterstetten and Glonn show. “The gap to climate neutrality is still enormous, but we sense a new beginning,” says Bärbel Zankl, spokeswoman for the working group (AK) Energie Oberpframmern, describing the mood in her community. Actors in other communities see things similarly. But there are always setbacks.
Bärbel Zankl sees some progress. However, there is still a lot to do, she says.
(Photo: private)
The balance that Bärbel Zankl draws for Oberpframmern is initially positive. Here the focus is primarily on photovoltaics; The working group has already organized various campaigns to reach citizens and traders. The roofs in the Aich commercial area alone could cover 30 percent of the business electricity needs in Oberpframmern, says Zankl, “then we need half a wind turbine and our business is climate-neutral.” According to Zankl, at an information event at the end of March, which was attended by around 30 people, it became clear which screw needed to be turned.
The profitability of renewable energies is beyond question, but the regulations are complicated and deterrent, especially for tenants who want to use photovoltaics, explains Zankl. It was therefore important to them to provide information about solutions for them at the event. In order to effectively advance the energy transition, however, politics must act above all.
AK Energie Oberpframmern wants to get not only companies on board, but also private individuals. In March, the working group sent a flyer to all households, which, in addition to information, also contained an offer for neighborhood solar advice. In addition, the citizens of the municipality can borrow a balcony solar module for testing. Zankl praises the cooperation with the municipal council and the mayor, Andreas Lutz (CSU). In the “Immediate program for energy transition projects”, priorities for the future are now to be defined with the municipal council. A regulars’ table series for key topics is also to be revived.
In addition to the energy transition, the AK Energie Oberpframmern is also trying to achieve a mobility transition for climate protection. In March, they applied to District Administrator Robert Niedergesäß for a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour on the state road that cuts through the town. The second Oberpframmern e-car exhibition also took place last weekend. At the same time, the charging station at the multi-purpose hall was put into operation. According to Mayor Lutz, a photovoltaic system with an output of 60 kilowatts peak (kWp) is also planned for the roof of the hall. The same, with 300 kWp, is planned for the waterworks by 2023.
The use of geothermal energy would be a great opportunity in Vaterstetten
In Vaterstetten, the use of deep geothermal energy is to be intensified. Geothermal energy is used to generate heat and electricity. Water from the depths is pumped to the surface at 80 to 90 degrees and made usable via a heat exchanger. The water is then pumped back into the ground to be preserved there. The advantage of deep geothermal energy is its constant availability. In Vaterstetten, the conditions for this are ideal, explains Sepp Mittermeier, spokesman for the energy transition in Vaterstetten, because water can be extracted from depths of up to 3,000 meters there.
Geothermal energy was already an issue in 2006/07, says Mittermeier, and now the project is to be implemented, provided the financing works out. “The situation has changed dramatically,” says Mittermeier, referring to the fact that Germany urgently needs to become independent of Russian energy. The future of geothermal energy will probably be revealed in the summer when various preliminary tests have been completed.
Sepp Mittermeier is involved in the municipal council and in the working group for the energy transition.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
But wind energy and photovoltaics are also to be expanded in Vaterstetten. The use of photovoltaics is “strictly recommended,” explains Mittermeier, who is also the spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group in the municipal council. There is a lot of citizen engagement. Unlike wind energy: progress here has been small so far.
Distances, shadows and nature conservation are not the only obstacles to progress in wind energy. If a wind turbine is permitted by law, the biggest challenge is the people – they sometimes encounter “vehement resistance” from citizens and property owners, says Mittermeier.
The action group in Glonn has called for immediate action
In Glonn, the action group Energiewende 2020 had recently called for a much more determined approach; In an application, the action group proposed various projects for local heating supply, electricity generation and mobility. For the implementation, the staff would also have to be increased. Chairman of the action group is Hans Gröbmayr, long-time climate protection manager of the district. The global political situation requires a strict and immediate energy transition, according to the application, which initially failed: the municipal council found it too broad and too demanding.
“Glonn has to save the world,” is how Mayor Josef Oswald (CSU) describes his perception of the AEG 2020 application. The community has already invested millions in climate-friendly projects in recent years, says Oswald. But that is not the reason for the rejection – it is unclear how the proposals will be financed, which is not least due to the fact that they are not detailed enough. The application with just under 30 sub-points was also not feasible in terms of personnel. Because a motion can only be accepted or rejected in its entirety, the result was probably reached, Oswald said, and he also suspected that the wording of the motion was inappropriate for some members of the municipal council. In addition, some projects have already been discussed and rejected in the past – such as building photovoltaic systems on listed or architecturally unsuitable building roofs.
Despite the rejection of the application, the working group does not want to give up. The members have already considered how to move forward. Gröbmayr now wants to propose two next steps: On the one hand, a working group is to be formed from the AEG 2020 and representatives of the parliamentary groups, which should first look for a common denominator in the demands made. They then want to apply for a position as a climate protection manager for the implementation, because implementation would not be possible without personnel support. Gröbmayr does not deny that the municipality of Glonn has already done a lot for the energy transition, but also emphasizes one thing: “We don’t want to finance Putin’s war.”