ENNEREG Good Practice - NEW Neue Energien West eG - The energy cooperative "Bürger-Energiegenossenschaft West eG", Upper Palatinate Region Germany, ENNEREG Good Practice in Cooperation - Energy Services and Financing

The NEW Neue Energien West eG / Bürger-Energiegenossenschaft West eG is one successful regional example for a renewable energy coop originally being funded as inter-communal cooperation between 8 municipalities, all located in the administrative district of Neustadt/Waldnaab / Upper Palatinate (27.02.2009).

Until today, the NEW eG invested into three large-scale groundmounted PV installations (solar farm Döllnitz, 1.3 MW; solar farms Barbaraberg 1 / 2, 3.1 MW) and several smaller roof-mounted PV systems.
The NEW and Bürger eG are also offering other services supporting the sustainable use of energy in the region, e.g. energy consulting services, thermalgraphy of buildings, issue of energy performance certificates for buildings, cleaning of PV modules, joint procurement, etc.

Summary

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Image Copyright: NEW Neue Energien West eG

A cooperative ("coop") is an autonomous association of persons who voluntarily cooperate for their mutual, social, economic, and cultural benefit. In Germany, this organization model is very effectively applied for financing and operating renewable energy installations since some years. Renewable energy coops are bringing together individual farmers, farmer cooperative associations, municipal utilities, equipment manufacturers and individual citizens to pool resources for constructing renewable energy production facilities.

The NEW Neue Energien West eG / Bürger-Energiegenossenschaft West eG is one successful regional example for a renewable energy coop originally being funded as inter-communal cooperation between 8 municipalities, all located in the administrative district of Neustadt/Waldnaab / Upper Palatinate (27.02.2009). Until today, additional 9 municipalities have become members, transcending cooperation from one to three authorities (i.e. districts of Amberg-Sulzbach, Tirschenreuth and the Municipality of Weiden). On national level, NEW and Bürger eG is one of the largest and fastest growing energy coops.

Results and Impacts

Project outcomes in terms of ENNEREG’s performance indicators:

Start Date:

27.02.2009 - foundation of NEW Neue Energien West (NEW eG)
08.06.2009 – foundation of Bürger-Energiegenossenschaft West eG (Bürger eG)

Cumulative investment made by stakeholders in sustainable energy (kEuro): 14.500
Renewable energy capacity installed (in kW): 6.200
Renewable energy production (MWh/year): 6.014
Reductions of greenhouse gas emissions (tCO₂/year): 4.200

Aims and Objectives of this Sustainable Energy Action

The basic objective of NEW and Bürger eG is to finance and operate renewable energy installations (e.g. PV installations). The NEW Neue Energien West eG is acting as managerial body, organizing the planning and administration of renewable energy projects. The “Bürger-Energiegenossenschaft West eG” acts as financing part in this coop model. The regional objectives of “NEW Neue Energien West eG” defined until 2030 are:

Termination of dependency from fossil fuel supply by 100 % supply from renewable energy sources
Integration / participation of private individuals in regional renewable energy projects

Technical and Financial Implementation

The NEW eG was set up in February 2009 as inter-communal energy cooperative between 8 municipalities. Until today, the number of authorities and other organizations under public law joining this energy coop has increased to 20. Only municipalities and corporate bodies under public law can become a member of this energy coop. The Bürger eG was founded in June 2009 (77 founding members applying for shares). Until January 2013, the number of stakeholders increased to 1.156, holding nearly 22.000 shares. Only competent natural persons with unlimited legal competency are allowed to become member (companies and associations are excluded).

Until today, the NEW eG invested into three large-scale groundmounted PV installations (solar farm Döllnitz, 1.3 MW; solar farms Barbaraberg 1 / 2, 3.1 MW) and several smaller roof-mounted PV systems.

The NEW and Bürger eG are also offering other services supporting the sustainable use of energy in the region, e.g. energy consulting services, thermalgraphy of buildings, issue of energy performance certificates for buildings, cleaning of PV modules, joint procurement, etc.

The Partners and Stakeholders

Members of NEW Neue Energien West eG:

Municipalities: Grafenwöhr, Pressath, Schwarzenbach, Kirchenthumbach, Trabitz, Speinshart, Schlammersdorf, Eschenbach, Neustadt am Kulm, Vorbach, Parkstein, Weiden, Auerbach, Weiherhammer, Kastl, Altenstadt, Kemnath
Other corporate bodies under public law: Utility of Grafenwöhr, municipal service company of Floss, Bürger eG

Members of Bürger-Energiegenossenschaft West eG:

1.156 private persons as stakeholders

Lessons Learnt

Social acceptance of renewable energy installations is likely to increase if citizens own part of the resource and share in the economic benefits of the development
Local communities are benefiting from a growing local tax base / reinvestments by energy cooperatives

How this Action could be Replicated

The establishment of renewable energy cooperatives is specifically replicable in regions with an established legal feed-in tariff system. Feed-in tariffs ensure a reliable economic framework for the operation of renewable energy installations, especially enabling stakeholders from rural areas for long-term investments in related technologies. In the Upper Palatinate Region energy cooperatives are still emerging in different districts, one of the latest examples being the Bürger Energie Region Regensburg eG, an energy coop for the district of Regensburg.

Related Information on the Regions 202020 Website:

Sustainable Energy Theme(s): : : Renewable energy sources (RES) :
Region(s)/Community(ies): : : : DE: Allgäu : : : : DE: Oberpfalz - Upper Palatinate : : :
Country(ies): Austria : Germany

Last updated: 17/05/2013 3:34pm - Contact: André SUCK -