Local energy transition pays off
For the municipalities, economic profits from renewable energies are a decisive argument for convincing the local population of the energy transition projects. An updated value-added calculator shows the economic advantages.
31.05.2024 – With the Solar Package1, the expansion of solar energy is progressing, and changes for ground-mounted solar parks are taking effect. But when it comes to the construction of solar parks or other renewable plants, there is sometimes still resistance among the local population. However, both acceptance and benefits can be increased with suitable nature conservation measures, participation models and, above all, the associated positive economic aspects.
The online value-added calculator of the Agency for Renewable Energies (AEE) and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) provides tangible evidence in economic terms – by quantifying the economic advantages of solar parks, wind turbines and other renewable plants. The economic advantages of the local energy transition will thus become transparent for cities, districts and municipalities. With it, municipalities can assess the value creation effects as well as the CO2-Calculate savings through the implementation of energy transition projects.
On behalf of and in cooperation with the Energy Agency Rhineland-Palatinate, the Saxon Energy Agency, the Energy Agency of the State of Thuringia, the State Energy Agency of Saxony-Anhalt and the Energy Agency Brandenburg, AEE and IÖW have updated the online calculator and adapted it to the legal innovations. The updated version now also takes into account the financial contributions from wind and solar farms in accordance with the new regulations of the Renewable Energy Sources Act as well as state-specific regulations on the financial participation of municipalities.
"We are pleased that we were able to improve our online value-added calculator together with the IÖW and the energy agencies and can now also add the effects of the new participation formats," says Robert Brandt, Managing Director of AEE. "It is crucial not to leave the municipalities alone when it comes to the energy transition, but to support their commitment with useful instruments."
Calculation for 27 different renewable energy technologies
In 2012, the IÖW developed the first version of the value-added calculator for the AEE. Since then, this model has been continuously developed and new value chains of renewable energy use have been added. For the newly published version, the energy agencies involved provided important input for optimisation with their experience in on-site consulting. The calculator can calculate the value-added effects for 27 different renewable energy technologies – from woodchip heating plants to wind farms – for the years 2019, 2025 and 2030. The value-added effects are made up of the three components income from employment, corporate profits and municipal tax revenues. The entire value chain of a plant – from planning to construction and installation to operation and maintenance – is taken into account, the makers report.
Value creation effects promote acceptance and community
"The computer should offer the possibility of setting important adjusting screws in the value creation analysis yourself," explains Steven Salecki from the IÖW. The energy agencies want to explain how this can be achieved in their own training courses.
In the end, users can also use the CO saved2equivalents and thus estimate the contribution of local projects to climate protection. The results are presented both graphically and in tabular form to make them easy to grasp and reuse, reports the AEE. "Renewable energies bring innovation to the regions, protect the environment and offer added value for everyone," says Robert Brandt. "The local value-added effects promote acceptance in the implementation of the energy transition locally." The energy municipalities awarded by the AEE would also show this again and again. A decentralised energy transition not only creates economic recovery, but also strengthens the community – an increasingly relevant aspect for strengthening our democratic values. well
The value-added calculator is available nationwide on the websites of the participating energy agencies as well as on the AEE website