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Schorfheide: Dispute over photovoltaic system – citizen survey starts!
In July 2025, Brandenburg municipalities will decide on open-field photovoltaic systems; Klandorf is looking for citizens' opinions and solutions.
Schorfheide: Dispute over photovoltaic system – citizen survey starts!
In Brandenburg, the communities will be faced with crucial decisions in 2025: whether and where open-space photovoltaic systems (PV-FFA) can be built is up to them. These systems are not only essential for the future of energy supply, but also offer numerous challenges and opportunities, such as barnim-aktuell.de reported.
In the municipality of Schorfheide, especially in the Klandorf district, there are currently disagreements among residents regarding a planned PV-FFA on around 30 hectares. In order to provide clarity, the local council decided to survey the citizens of Klandorf itself. The Green Municipal Political Working Group Schorfheide (GKAKS) has developed a decision-making aid with seven points for this purpose. These are intended to support communities in making informed decisions.
What needs to be taken into account?
Supporting or opposing PV-FFA brings with it some points that should be taken into account. The GKAKS proposes to hold direct discussions between community representatives and the operators in order to safeguard the concerns of residents. In addition, the creation of a cycle path to the shopping areas in Zerpenschleuse is considered sensible in connection with the construction of the facilities. The combination of PV-FFA with the latest storage technology should also enable better use of the electricity generated.
Another aspect that is likely to be important for many communities is the new special levy for operators of solar parks in Brandenburg, which is set to take effect from 2025. This levy, which was established by law, amounts to 2,000 euros per megawatt per year and must be paid to the local municipality pv-magazine.de reported. The income must be used specifically for projects that improve the townscape or infrastructure, promote social activities or establish community energy companies. For many communities, this can represent both an opportunity and a challenge.
The role of photovoltaics
The need for open space for PV-FFA has fallen sharply in recent years and now amounts to around 1 hectare per megawatt, according to information from Federal Environment Agency. At the end of 2021, around 32,000 hectares of these systems were installed in Germany, a significant part of which is conversion land and arable land. Despite the high land use, it should be noted that PV-FFA generally has lower negative environmental impacts than the cultivation of energy crops.
The discussion about the expansion goals is also currently very popular: a total of 215 gigawatts are to be installed in Germany by 2030, which corresponds to tripling the current output. Municipalities and their citizens should deal with the opportunities and risks of PV-FFA in good time in order to find sustainable solutions together.
In summary, the community in Schorfheide is faced with an interesting task: it is important to reconcile the advantages of sustainable energy production with the needs of the residents and to further strengthen the community's fortified structures.