The energy agency Ebersberg-Munich takes care of climate protection in the two neighboring districts and advises citizens, companies and municipalities on energy issues. Benjamin Hahn has been working in press and public relations at the facility since the beginning of 2019. In an interview, the 36-year-old talks about the expectations of the new government, the newly founded corporate alliance “Die Klimaneutralen”, and explains how things are going with the energy transition in the district.
SZ: For the next four years, the federal government will wear the colors red, yellow and green. What are you hoping for the change of power?
Benjamin Hahn: That is a complex question. We hope for greater funding in the area of alternative mobility. By that I mean bicycle infrastructure, public transport. Anyone who lives in and around Munich knows the problem that the S-Bahn keeps breaking down. No e-car will help you because it is stuck in a traffic jam. Maintaining the currently very good funding opportunities for renovations must be maintained, especially for households that are not economically strong, so that they too have the opportunity to set up themselves accordingly, to convert their heating or perhaps to install a photovoltaic system on their own roof to build. And we hope for an expansion of renewable energies in principle.
So there is a lot to be done. What is planned in terms of energy expansion in the Ebersberg district?
We notice a noticeable interest of the municipalities in the expansion of wind energy – also because the year 2030, by which the district wants to be free of fossil and other finite energy sources, is getting closer and closer. It would be embarrassing to miss a goal that you set yourself 16 years ago and that was realistic at the time and is still feasible. That is why the Energy Agency supports all municipalities that are now starting serious planning. We are really difficult to assess what is planned in the private sphere. But we can see that people are very interested in photovoltaic systems on their own roofs. The new federal government intends to introduce mandatory PV for new commercial buildings. The Free State of Bavaria has actually already let itself be put under pressure and is including this in its own climate protection law. We therefore assume that this will generate a great deal of momentum in the photovoltaics sector.
Benjamin Hahn is press spokesman at the Ebersberg-Munich energy agency.
(Photo: private / oh)
There was also resistance in the district to the expansion of wind energy.
Yes, that’s right. Constructive cooperation must remain the goal, even if the narrow result of the referendum has given the energy transition a boost. We are still ready to talk, because this is the best way to take legitimate concerns seriously and to look for solutions together.
It seems as if wind power has an image problem in Bavaria.
I don’t think it’s an image problem. It’s more of a habituation problem. Historically, wind power was never particularly well represented here. If you take a look at the historical mills there are usually water mills in Bavaria, but not windmills. The fact that wind energy plants on this scale are possible in Bavaria today is simply due to the fact that the technology has developed very strongly in recent years. In this respect, it is a topic that has only come up in the recent past.
In what period would the wind turbines be built?
In perspective, it is difficult to say when the wind turbines will be in the entire district. We cannot comment on the project in the forest either, as we have nothing to do with planning and operation. We want to be completely honest and neither stir up any fears or anticipation. But it is clear to all of us that a significant expansion must have taken place by 2030. If we don’t manage to do that, things will look very bleak for the climate goals.
The new federal government has declared that 80 percent of the electricity demand should be covered by renewable energies by 2030.
The share of renewable energies in electricity consumption in the district of Ebersberg was 27.9 percent in 2018. That’s not a bad starting point to get around 80 percent. However, this value is not the aim of the district. This is 100 percent and thus goes well beyond the requirements of the federal government. We are and will remain optimistic that it will actually be possible with all the measures that are and will now be planned. The obligation to have photovoltaics on new commercial buildings in particular will make a large contribution to the fact that something is happening in the industrial sector. And if we achieve this goal and, as an Upper Bavarian district, overtake a red-green-yellow coalition, then we can really be proud of ourselves.
The industry is the largest greenhouse gas emission driver in the district of Ebersberg with 2.54 tons per inhabitant in 2018.
Yes, that’s why we founded the corporate alliance “Die Klimaneutralen”. Companies can join forces and voluntarily undertake to become climate neutral by 2030. Together with the company, we then create a roadmap that shows the steps through which the reduction can take place.
What exactly does this timetable look like in the new year?
On the one hand, there are technical measures, such as conversion of processes in operation or the use of renewable energies. But also actually the restructuring of business trips, better offers for employees to use public transport. The corporate alliance then also offers the possibility of offsetting with climate certificates.
This emissions trading was discussed very critically because companies that have the resources can buy a green conscience.
We are not afraid of that in this case. We are very careful to ensure that all companies that participate in this alliance meet the requirement that they must have taken advantage of all other measures before they decide to trade in certificates, which we then monitor and mediate.
If I spoke to you next winter, what would have to have happened for you to say: That was a good year?
The corporate alliance should have grown at least three times as large. The number of PV systems in the district should have increased by at least ten percent and the specific locations for at least ten more wind turbines should be determined.