Josef Solleder and Gerhard Kocher join forces as the new chairman of the energy cooperative to drive forward the energy transition. Behind them is the meadow in Point where Solleder wants to build his private ground-mounted PV system. © Thomas Plettenberg
The Waakirchen-Schaftlach energy cooperative has repositioned itself. Gerhard Kocher is at the helm, founder Sepp Solleder chairs the supervisory board. The goal is growth.
Waakirchen – The time is ripe, riper than it was twelve years ago," says Sepp Solleder. On June 16, 2011, the entrepreneur launched the Waakirchen-Schaftlach Energy Cooperative, supported by Andreas Heiß and Matthias Willinger as additional board members. The idea: Citizens join forces to build photovoltaic systems and sell electricity. An initiative to promote the energy transition, but also an investment in a technology of the future.
"This has potential," says Gerhard Kocher. He wants to pick up the ball, implement new projects with the cooperative. After its founding, it quickly covered seven municipal roofs with PV systems, but has not been able to implement a new project since then. Solleder was not short of ideas. "I put a lot of energy into it," he says. Looking for new roofs, the idea of a ground-mounted PV system at the elevated tank at Fuchsloch was developed in order to generate electricity for the water pump. When nothing was going on, Solleder decided to build a PV system on his own land in Point and relinquish the chairmanship of the cooperative. Recently, the announced change at the top of the cooperative was completed. With a result that bundles a lot of expertise. Kocher, an electrical engineer and former energy and climate protection officer for the municipality, was elected as the new chairman at the general assembly. Solleder will remain on board as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Currently, the cooperative operates PV systems on the Waakirchen gymnasium, on the school, the town hall, the building yard, the split hall and two other buildings. 82 members, half of them children, hold 358 shares. One share cost 2011 euros in 100 and is worth 750 euros today, according to Solleder. In addition, the members of the cooperative granted a loan of 1000 euros each at the start, which was consistently interest-bearing at three percent as a fixed investment. So far, according to Solleder, no share has been sold. Distributions were waived, the profit flowed into the reserves. "We have money to invest in new facilities," Solleder explains.
Looking for areas for PV - on the roof or floor
The new chairman Kocher is now looking for suitable space. If you have a suitable roof, but don't want to invest money and effort yourself, you can turn to the energy cooperative, says Kocher. Above all, however, the cooperative is looking for a place for a ground-mounted PV system. "A disadvantaged area would be optimal," explains the chairman. In other words, an area that is not suitable for agriculture, preferably not visible. The landowner receives a lease, and the terms of the contract must be discussed on a case-by-case basis. "But the whole thing remains fully in the hands of the citizens," assures Kocher. The concept of the cooperative does not change. The electricity generated flows into the grid, and the cooperative is looking for a direct marketer for distribution.
Kocher is also pursuing the idea of covering parking areas with solar panels. Then already sealed area would be used. The hurdles to placing PV systems in the landscape are great. No valuable soil should be taken away from agriculture, and the landscape should not be impaired.
The plant in Point, which Solleder wants to realize as a private citizen on his own meadow next to his house, also serves as a pilot project. "If it doesn't work there, it won't work anywhere," says Solleder. He himself will be the only neighbor of the plant, the feed-in is unproblematic thanks to the neighboring substation. There is a reason why he is realizing the project on his own and not within the framework of the cooperative. "It allows me to act more freely," says Solleder.
"Every square meter of photovoltaics is a good square meter."
The Waakirchen municipal council approved the plant in December. According to the district office, the municipality must now carry out a land-use planning procedure, in the context of which the individual specialist offices will then be consulted on the project. The Lower Nature Conservation Authority at the District Office does not see any objections to the construction of a PV system at this point, it says. Solleder believes that it will probably take him two years to obtain approval: "But it may only take half a year for the next plants."
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Kocher and Solleder will not let go. They want to drive forward the energy transition and rely on the power of the sun. The wind, says Kocher, is not blowing steadily enough in the Oberland. You can't go wrong with an investment in electricity generation, Solleder believes: "Every square meter of photovoltaics is a good square meter."
Interested parties can contact Chairman Gerhard Kocher by e-mail: gerhard.kocher@eg-ws.de. The Waakirchen-Schaftlach energy cooperative is looking for land for citizen PV systems, but also offers advice to private individuals.
