Οn 15th of November more than 100 participants from municipalities, energy cooperatives and energy supply companies met at the congress “EnergieRegion – Effiziente Wärmenetze” in Hinterzarten (Germany) and discussed the current challenges of the sustainable heating strategy in Baden-Württemberg. Individual workshops also took place as part of the congress. One workshop dealt with the perspectives for biogas plants after the end of state subsidies (EEG). Mr. Volker Kromrey, project manager of the ISABEL project at the Lake Constance Foundation, presented the opportunities that can represent a stronger involvement of citizens. The aim of the workshop was to discuss the two key questions with the participants: First, what are the strengths of biogas and how can these be better highlighted? Secondly can citizen participation be a model for the time after the end of state subsidies?
During the discussion and exchange with those involved, it became clear once again that the public perception of biogas plants tends to be negative. Agricultural land scarcity, rising lease prices, nitrate pollution and a lack of knowledge about the energetic potential of so-called residual materials characterize the perception.
Mr. Volker Kromrey.
Correcting this perception was possible after the impulses on ISABEL and others by Mr. Michael Köttner from IBBK and Mr. Jörg Messner from LAZBW in the course of the workshop. Biogas plants have different levers to increase acceptance. According to the participants, it can be decisive to rely on permanent crops for the cultivation of energy crops, as is possible with the silphy. Or the time when fermentation residues are applied can be controlled by the farm and thus reduce the nitrate load. It is clear that new biogas plants can only be approved if they are adapted to the energy products used, such as liquid manure and fertiliser and additional energy crops. Biogas plants, for example, can be a considerable sink for the climate-damaging emission of methane in livestock farming. It is also conceivable that new sources of income could be generated by reducing greenhouse gases through certification.
In social terms, a biogas plant can only create added value if, on the one hand, the advantages of such a plant are also known to the citizens and, on the other hand, the municipalities, together with the plant operators, develop a strategy for integrating it into the municipal field of action. Political framework conditions, such as those envisaged in the bio-economy strategy, must be implemented in political action and the creation of suitable framework conditions. However, this can only succeed if a social demand for biogas plants can be identified.
The Lake Constance Foundation has accompanied these processes during the ISABEL project and supported various biogas communities in trying out new ways that allow a socially accepted continued operation.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Dimitri Vedel.
Lake Constance Foundation, Fritz-Reichle-Ring 4, D-78315 Radolfzell, Germany
Tel.-Nr.: +49 (0)7732-9995-47, E-Mail: dimitri.vedel@bodensee-stiftung.org,
Website: www.bodensee-stiftung.org
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