The open space photovoltaics project is an affair of the heart for Georg Scheitz. The Mayor of Andechs could hardly wait for it to start on Tuesday. After the Environment Committee in May, he now has the entire council on his side. Now the district has to decide how to proceed with the two approximately one hectare large areas in the landscape protection area, in Frieding and in Spornritt (we reported), in order to clear the way for solar energy.
Andechs
- As reported, the Fünfseenland energy cooperative plans to increasingly operate as an operator of green electricity systems. She also wants to operate these plants in Andechs. Board member Gerd Mulert has already been able to win over the Munich company Vispiron for the preliminary investigation. He therefore presented the potential analysis to the councils together with Josef Vilgertshofen from Vispiron on Tuesday. These analyzes sound promising, even if the citizens' project cannot and should not be about high returns. Mulert and Scheitz have a lot more focus on the energy transition. The share of renewable energy in Andechs was just 13.6 percent in 2020. With the two plants, this share could more than double. According to Vilgertshofener's calculation, Frieding could supply 310 households with electricity, Spornritt 289.
However, the two areas are in the landscape protection area. In Frieding it is the old gravel pit; in the spur ride, between Machtlfing and Rothenfeld, it is in the middle of the forest. The gravel pit is also suitable because a power line runs by in the immediate vicinity. This is different in the spur ride, where the next connection is 900 meters away. That means additional costs that reduce the yield.
Vilgertshofen suggested the installation of an electricity storage system for Frieding. In the spur ride, four such power storage systems the size of sea containers are necessary to achieve the same yield - namely between three and four percent. Quite apart from the fact that final discussions with the wood lawyers from Spornritt are pending. Because while the gravel pit is in community ownership, the right-wingers have the last word in the spur ride. Despite the unequal conditions, at this point in time nobody in the council wants to drop the opportunity there. “These are the only spaces that we can offer. We can always take it back, ”said Scheitz.
First, however, the matter of landscape protection must be clarified. Like Scheitz, Mulert is of the opinion that removal from the protected area is not necessary, as biodiversity is guaranteed under the facility and, in the event of deconstruction, the old condition is restored. A simple exemption procedure would be sufficient, say the mayor and the board of directors. Both are members of the district council and as such they are already in talks with the district administrator and other mayors. "We could then serve as a training purpose," said Scheitz with a laugh. In fact, the district is breaking completely new ground. Should a removal be necessary, Mulert - he belongs to the Greens parliamentary group in the district assembly - fears that there could be resistance in his parliamentary group of all people. That is one of the reasons why Scheitz wants to bring about a liberation.
The energy cooperative wants to finance the project, if possible, as a citizens' project.
Mulert assured the council that Andechser would be the first opportunity to draw.