As of: April 3, 2024, 2:47 p.m
By: Manuela Schauer
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Photovoltaic systems can now be seen in many places, such as here at Lachen in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. © Peter Kornatz
The municipality of Bad Bayersoien wants to make a contribution to the energy transition and is aiming for a solar park. Now it was time to take the next steps. But it didn't come to that.
Bad Bayersoien – Solar parks are now springing up like mushrooms. Photovoltaic systems have already been implemented in the district. In Eschenlohe or Garmisch-Partenkirchen, for example, on the Oberammergauer Kolben, construction is scheduled to start this year. The municipality of Bad Bayersoien would like to follow suit. There is consensus in the local council on this matter.
That is why Martin Ossowski from Enerparc was invited to the meeting for the second time. To take the next step towards realization. But nothing came of it. A few local councilors put the brakes on.
To the company
The company Enerparc is currently one of the largest photovoltaic park operators in Europe and is based in Augsburg. The solar parks are developed and operated by a single source, and the electricity produced is also sold independently by Enerparc. In 2022, around three million households were supplied with electricity from Enerparc's solar parks.
“The topic is very exciting and important,” said Rupert Haseidl (GUD). “We have to do something.” But he doesn’t want to rush anything. He would like more information, more models. An opinion shared by several people on the panel. This meant that the proposed resolution did not find a majority and was rejected by a vote of 5:4. If the committee had given its blessing, it would have agreed to set up PV systems on two areas outside the town. The total area: around 8.5 hectares. Inquiries would have been made to the government of Upper Bavaria regarding the development of the affected properties. If the feedback was positive, an urban development contract would have been concluded with Enerparc. “It’s going too fast for me,” Haseidl made it clear.
Agriculture will not be lost
Ossowski had previously informed the council about the current state of affairs. She informs that discussions have already been held with the owners of the areas. He was overflowing with numbers. If the areas were to be developed, an output of ten megawatts would be expected. According to him, this corresponds to supplying around 3,400 households and saving around 6,300 tonnes of CO2 per year. What he particularly emphasized: The land used is not completely lost to agriculture. The expert referred to other projects in which sheep are grazed in the parks or chickens are kept. Orchards are also conceivable, and even information paths.
Of course, the financial question could not remain unanswered. If the solar park is successfully built, around 20,000 euros per year in municipal participation would automatically flow into the municipality's coffers over 20 years. In addition, it would also receive shares of the trade tax and could participate in the construction of the solar park with up to 25.1 percent. Allowing citizens to participate would also be possible.
Don't just bet on one horse
Ossowski had already provided rough information last year. Since then there has been nothing blatantly new. “We couldn’t do much without the community’s mandate,” he said. That's why the meeting was about setting the course. With a positive decision, Enerparc could have taken the next steps. Above all, develop a preliminary draft. “Something tangible to feed the authorities.” The district office or the nature conservation authority, for example.
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The two areas (marked in red) were intended as solar park areas. © community/mm
Areas are viewed critically
All understandable aspects. But Haseidl disliked betting on just one horse. He suggested listening to other providers without throwing Enerparc out of the competition. But “we should ensure that the money remains more in the hands of citizens,” emphasized the GUD representative. That's why he would like to find out more about cooperative options. Maximilian Drexler took the same line. On the one hand, he recalled that the areas presented had previously been viewed critically by the local council. On the other hand, he questioned whether a solar park of this size was needed. With a smaller variant in conjunction with a cooperative model, interested citizens would have to subscribe for fewer shares. “It’s not always important to reach for the highest stars,” emphasized Drexler. “There are also some below that glow.”
Deputy town hall boss Karl-Heinz Schuster (FBB) took a contrary view. You have to consider yourself lucky if the property owners make space available. Kieweg added that the owners more or less have the final say. If they only want to implement the project with Enerparc, “then we have to join in.” She assumed that the location was good for the PV systems. “But if you don’t want to – okay. . . This is democracy.”