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Renewable energy communities
can also participate in wind turbines, for example
Photo: Henning Kaiser / dpa
"It's about getting momentum into the energy transition. And we believe that this can only happen with the citizens," says Jan Wiesenthal from the Institute for Economic Research (IÖW).
Among other things, he conducts research on renewable energies - and on the subject of prosumers.
The term combines the English words "producer" (manufacturer) and "consumer" (consumer) and means that consumers can also be producers at the same time.
This also describes the basic idea of the so-called "renewable energy communities".
Here, citizens can organize themselves in communities and renewable energy can be shared far and wide - and thus also stands for a decentralized and independent energy supply from citizens for citizens.
The basis for this is the EU directive on renewable energies (RED II), Article 22. The concept is particularly interesting in view of the federal government’s expansion goals: in eight years, 80 percent of the electricity consumed should come from renewable energies, and by 2035 the electricity should even come almost exclusively from renewable sources.
In any case, time is pressing.
A draft law for the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) 2023 states that "massive efforts are required" to achieve the set goal.
Renewable energy communities could be an important helper here.
Difficult conditions for energy sharing in Germany
But: In Germany, with the so-called "citizen energy companies" in the EEG, there is a definition of what such an energy community can look like.
However: "What is missing now is the further legal framework," says Viola Theesfeld from the Bündnis Bürgerenergie, which is committed to a renewable energy supply supported by citizens.
Theesfeld is alluding to the community's right to use the generated electricity collectively, i.e. to engage in so-called energy sharing.
Because the collective consumption of self-generated electricity "is almost impossible in Germany," says a study by Deutsche-Energie-Agentur GmbH from March 2022. Jan Wiesenthal from the IÖW also says: "You can't implement something like that at the moment because the Framework conditions do not allow economic implementation" This would also be due, among other things, to levies and charges that are due when the electricity produced is fed into the grid and fed out again.
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection did not want to comment on the subject despite a request from manager magazin.
Viola Theesfeld's Citizens' Energy Alliance has developed concepts of what energy sharing could look like based on the European model: Citizens could help finance wind power or solar systems in their area, with the community owning the systems.
Shareholders or members can be natural persons, local authorities including municipalities, or small and medium-sized enterprises.
Citizens can then obtain the electricity generated themselves at a reduced price.
Enormous potential for the energy transition
However, Theesfeld demands that financial incentives should also be created for energy communities that operate energy sharing: "That could be a premium payment, as in Italy, or a reduction in the ancillary electricity costs."
What is important to Theesfeld: The entry hurdle to membership in a community must not be too high.
"With low minimum deposits, membership in a renewable energy community could also be open to financially weak citizens so that they can benefit from lower electricity procurement costs from plants in their area."
According to the calculations of the IÖW, the costs for one person to participate in the energy community would be around 100 to 200 euros.
According to the IÖW, "energy sharing" has enormous potential: On behalf of the Bündnis Bürgernergie, the institute checked the concept proposed by the association for its economic viability.
According to the results of the study, renewable energy communities could form anywhere in Germany.
"A large part of the expansion targets for 2030 could be taken over by energy communities that practice energy sharing," says Wiesenthal.
The network expansion costs would also decrease thanks to the private investments of the citizens.
The scientist also hopes that energy sharing will increase acceptance of the expansion of renewable energies among the general public.
According to Wiesenthal, the costs for taxpayers – including the benefits demanded by the Citizens' Energy Alliance – amount to 2.1 billion euros.
Theesfeld now wants one thing above all: a further development of how energy communities can generate and share electricity in the future.
"It's really about a very low-threshold offer, which should enable many people to obtain cheaper electricity. But in the end it has to be sustainable and worthwhile. And we have to discuss it now: 'What is an appropriate premium?
How is it financed?
Who even pays it?
These are very practical questions."