There is great interest in renewable energy communities (EEG), with which solar power is generated, stored and used locally on municipal buildings, company buildings and/or private houses. This is made possible by the Renewable Energy Expansion Act, which was passed last year to promote the energy transition. Waizenkirchen was one of the first municipalities to adopt an EEG. The engine behind this project is the green community leader Harald Geissler, who is also chairman of the committee for climate protection, environment and energy.
Initially, a merger of community and commercial properties and the participation of citizens was planned in the EEG. Due to a very good old contract between the municipality and its energy supplier, implementation is not yet economically feasible in the short term this year.
“In order to be able to offer this innovative and future-oriented model to the population in the short term, we decided to found a ‘private EEG’ that is reserved for citizens,” says Geissler, who, with his wife Sieglinde Forster, runs the PV system in their home in brings in the producer group. For this purpose, the “Viere” association was founded, which is not geared towards profit but is oriented towards the common good. Each member can either supply electricity from their own PV system or purchase electricity. Further PV systems are to be included by autumn, but unfortunately Netz Oberösterreich will not be able to do this any earlier.
According to Geissler, the aim is also to create guidelines for the establishment and processes of renewable energy communities, which will be made available to interested parties.
Source: Nachrichten
