Clear edge for the energy transition: SPD calls for solar obligation for new buildings

Created: 07/08/2022 06:01

By: Peter Herrmann

Thomas Martin (right) from Energiewende Oberland advocated greater use of solar energy at an information event organized by the SPD in Icking.

© Peter Herrmann

New buildings in Icking should have photovoltaic systems: that is what the SPD is demanding.

Thomas Martin from Energiewende Oberland explains the legal basis

Icking – At the citizens' meeting in Wolfratshausen, he already made sure that the city council had to deal with his application by autumn at the latest.

At the invitation of the local SPD branch in the Landhotel Klostermaier, Thomas Martin, co-founder of the Oberland energy transition, discussed why it would also make sense for new buildings to be solar-powered in Icking.

SPD local chairman Dr.

Beatrice Wagner said that the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine had increased awareness of the need to become independent from fossil fuels.

Unfortunately, Icking "missed a few opportunities" in the past to equip new buildings with photovoltaic systems.

As an example, she referred to the roof of the Rewe supermarket at the S-Bahn station.

According to Wagner, since the property belongs to the municipality, the client could have been obliged to set up a PV system.

Clear edge for the energy transition: SPD calls for solar obligation for new buildings

Thomas Martin documented the energy loss with numbers.

According to him, the solar cells on the Rewe roof would have produced at least 150,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year with a self-consumption rate of around 50 percent.

"This results in a potential saving of 75,000 kWh and 22,500 euros per year," calculated the member of the Oberland energy transition.

The costs for the photovoltaic system would thus have been amortized in ten years.

The speaker estimated that redesigning unused building exteriors could cover around 50 percent of the nation's electricity needs.

Since regional electricity increasingly remains in local low-voltage grids, it would also relieve other grids.

Is a PV obligation legal?

Energiewende member explains

The legal prerequisite for a solar obligation is compatibility with fundamental rights, the guarantee of property and freedom of occupation.

According to the Bavarian Constitutional Law, the requirement does not represent an unreasonable burden. The solar obligation should not yet come into effect for existing buildings.

"Initially, it only affects new buildings and major roof changes," Martin clarified.

He suggested implementing the solar obligation either through urban development contracts or by including it in the development plan.

You can read the latest news from Icking here.

This arrangement would pay off in hard cash for builders.

A family of four could earn around 686 euros a year building a new single-family home, which would have amortized the costs in just under twelve years.

"Anyone who builds a house today without a photovoltaic system is wasting money and making a bad investment," summarized Martin at the end of his presentation.

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According to Martin, whether many more PV systems will be added to the current 226 in the municipal area depends primarily on “political will”.

SPD veteran Gerhard Jakobi has his doubts.

"If we submit this application, we will be accused of deprivation of liberty," fears the 87-year-old.

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