After ten years of existence, the Fünfseenland energy cooperative wants to increasingly operate as an operator of green electricity systems.
This should be done on a larger scale using open-space photovoltaic systems.
The first opportunity for this in the district is now in the municipality of Andechs.
Andechs
- Cooperative board member Gerd Mulert received the okay on Tuesday evening from the environmental committee of the monastery community to initiate further steps towards the realization. There have already been initial investigations at two locations. Mayor Georg Scheitz is enthusiastic about the idea. “How else do we want to shape the energy turnaround?” He said and was pleased that his fellow councilors were “so courageous with him to take this into their own hands”.
Mulert presented the options to the local councils on Tuesday, but also pointed out the pitfalls.
There are two areas in the community area: an area of around 9,000 to 10,000 square meters at the gravel pit in Frieding;
and an area of around 5000 to 6000 square meters in the Spornritt, a predominantly wooded area between the Seachtn near Machtlfing and the Rothenfeld correctional facility.
The energy cooperative has already carried out investigations in cooperation with the Vispiron company.
The Munich-based company specializes in large-scale projects and has already implemented large-scale photovoltaic parks internationally.
Vispiron also operates large solar power plants at home and abroad and as a company has an economic focus.
In the district, it is not about high returns at all, emphasized Mulert in the committee meeting. The focus is on the energy transition and participation by citizens. Little money can be made with small plants like those offered in Andechs. The interest of larger companies in operating them is therefore limited. The energy cooperative, of which the Andechs community is also a member, would therefore commission Vispiron with the construction and offer itself as operator.
According to Mulert, the prospects of being able to operate a plant economically in the Frieding gravel pit are good. Also because there is a power line nearby. Because the electricity generated has to be fed in. This is not the case on the area in the spur ride. However, Georg Scheitz knew to report that a new power line was to be laid after Machtlfing, which would virtually lead past the intended area. If both areas were built and operated together, “it could work,” Mulert believed.
What both areas have in common is that they are located in the landscape protection area. The big question is whether or not an extraction is necessary for open space voltaic systems, as biodiversity is still guaranteed under the system. "The district administrator is also concerned with this topic," said Mulert. The project is a good opportunity to create clarity.
The project also has a small catch: unlike the gravel pit, Spornritt is not owned by the municipality, but belongs to around 90 so-called lawyers, Erlingen families who have owned timber rights since 1853. He had already spoken to the board of directors, said Scheitz. Mulert, in turn, is certain that he can also inspire everyone else, should it actually turn out that an investment there would be profitable. The thing with the profitability in Frieding is easier, however, an extension to private space would also be an advantage there, explained Mulert.
In his preliminary investigation, Stefan Fußeder from Vispiron tried out solar panels both in an east-west orientation with a ten percent incline and in the more productive south orientation with a 20 percent incline. The energy cooperative now has to check whether this is actually possible in the end. Mulert received the order for this unanimously from the Environment Committee.
