Is there a solar park coming to Urspring?

Created: 01/20/2022, 16:00

By: Rafael Sala

A lot of green electricity can be generated with such solar parks.

© Sven Hoppe/dpa

The municipality of Steingaden wants to give the local energy transition a strong boost.

That's why she gave the green light for the construction of a solar park in the Urspring district - at least in terms of planning by means of a so-called installation decision.

But a queasy gut feeling remains.

Steingaden

– What is more advantageous or, to put it more bluntly: What is the lesser evil?

To use house roofs for the regenerative generation of electricity or to make open spaces available for this?

The former would already exist in Steingaden, but not as effectively.

The latter would be more powerful, but would have the disadvantage of blocking meadows and thus damaging nature.

This question drove the Steingaden municipal council members to the most recent meeting in the auditorium of the elementary school.

Private builder plans the system

Initially, it only played an indirect role, but then took on an increasingly broader role – when it came to deciding on a planned open-space solar park in the Urspring district.

A private builder is planning to successively set up solar panels for energy generation on an area of ​​around 20 hectares ("Hirschau cattle pasture") over the coming months and years.

According to Mayor Max Bertl (CSU), the output of the system would be so great that it would mean a real quantum leap in terms of regenerative energy supply for the town.

Energy transition must be filled with life

And that, according to the head of town hall, is exactly the decisive advantage of the available open space: "The modules can be optimally aligned there according to the position of the sun." Roofs that are at different angles to the sun would never give that. Not to mention that it would take a ton of them to even remotely deliver similar performance. The downside of the open space variant: The area is built up, nature is damaged - which nobody wants and should only ever be the last resort.

He had given it a lot of thought, explained the head of town hall, but had come to the conclusion that there was no way around the project: "Otherwise we won't be able to phase out nuclear power." fill with life.

And that is exactly what the location in Urspring does.

installation decision made

Other councilors felt the same way.

Ludwig Straub argued that electricity consumption would increase massively in the coming years.

If you only start from the electric cars that will conquer the market, then you need a tenfold increase in green electricity.

There are simply far too few roofs in the municipal area.

"We can't do that." Although he had a queasy feeling, Straub explained that he was at peace with himself now.

With a so-called installation resolution, the Steingaden municipal councils gave the green light for the project.

That doesn't mean that the client can take action right away - on the contrary: now it's the public's turn.

With this building law instrument, citizens can be informed at an early stage about the goals and purposes of a building project.

You will also have the opportunity to object to this.