Bautzen: Energy transition is on the brink – act now!

Bautzen: Energy transition is on the brink – act now!

In Bautzen there are rumblings when it comes to heat supply: the municipal utilities are faced with the challenge of drawing up a new heat plan by 2028 at the latest in order to achieve the Federal Republic's goals for climate-neutral heat supply by 2045. But what happens next? The uncertainties regarding implementation are noticeable. According to a report by the Sächsischen.de All German municipalities must submit a functioning heat plan by the set deadline.

What is particularly exciting is that Wilthen is the first municipality in Saxony to develop such a plan - entirely in collaboration with Sachsen-Energie and the engineering firm seecon. This plan shows how heat requirements in buildings can be reduced and renewable energy can be used more effectively. Mayor Michael Herfort (CDU) emphasizes citizen participation and encourages the population to find out about alternative options for heat supply.

Bautzen municipal utilities and their financing

The Stadtwerke Bautzen (EWB) is in discussion about the financing of its future projects. A report from ZFK shows that there is no possibility of expanding retention at the EWB as long as new state regulations are not created. Although the EWB's financial basis is solid, the increasing obligation of municipalities requires adequate financing to support loss-making business areas. The city of Bautzen has to provide funds from its core budget because banks are acting more cautiously in view of rising energy system costs.

EWB supplies almost 26,000 households and 2,400 businesses in the region with electricity, gas, water and heat and employs more than 100 people. Here the close cooperation between the city, city council and municipal utilities is highlighted as the key to the energy transition. The city expresses a strong need for reliable framework conditions, particularly through municipal heat planning.

Challenges on the way to the energy transition

However, the implementation of the energy transition in Bautzen also faces challenges, such as the shortage of skilled workers in craft businesses and uncertainty about financial leeway. With the increase in mandatory tasks and a lack of adequate financial resources, the municipalities' ability to act is noticeably restricted. There is an appeal to the federal and state governments to permanently finance new mandatory tasks and to support the municipalities in their ability to implement them independently.

Time is of the essence because the climate goals are clearly set: the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the expansion of renewable energies by 2050 are on the agenda. Past developments, such as the closure of the last nuclear power plants in Germany on April 15, 2023, have shown how important comprehensive planning and solid financing are. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how Bautzen will overcome these challenges in order to take a successful and sustainable path into the future.

Whether Bautzen can achieve its goal of climate-neutral heat supply by 2045 despite all these difficulties will be seen in the coming years. The next steps are crucial and citizens are called upon to actively participate in shaping their energy future.