Energy, under the aspects of supply reliability, economic efficiency as well as climate and environmental protection, plays an important role in the development of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region and therefore forms a main focal point of planning activities. Article 3, Section 5, No. 3, of the state treaty between the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate serves as the legal basis for these activities, transferring responsibility to the Rhine-Neckar Regional Association for co-coordinating activities in the area of energy on the basis of regional developing concepts.
Against this background, the association and Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH have already organised numerous energy-related activities or have planned them for the future. The responsible authorities are currently working on the Rhine-Neckar regional energy concept, which is intended to bring together the individual sub-areas.
Renewable energy concepts
The Rhine-Neckar Regional Association has drawn up concepts for the association territory that deal with the potential and possibilities of utilising renewable energy:
- "Erneuerbare-Energien-Konzept für die Region Rheinpfalz" ("Renewable Energy Concept for the Rhine-Palatinate Region") (2005)
- "Erneuerbare-Energien-Konzept für die Region Rhein-Neckar – rechtsrheinischer Teilraum" ("Renewable Energy Concept for the Rhine-Neckar Region – Right Side of the Rhine Sub-area") (2007)
The main focus of both these concepts lies in identifying the potential benefits of regionally available renewable energy. All suitable energy sources were uniformly investigated according to the criteria of energy potential, economic efficiency, job market potential, approval procedures, scope for subsidies, advantages and disadvantages, as well as prominent projects. The concepts also deal with issues regarding the efficient use of energy such as municipal energy controlling, energy-based refurbishment of old buildings, cogeneration, heat grids and hydrogen technology.
Essentially, the concepts address two target groups, namely local authority districts and system operators:
concrete recommendations for action are already available for local authority districts. These demonstrate how the utilisation of renewable energy and implementation of energy efficiency measures can cut costs, alleviate dependence on oil and gas, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise the added value in the region.
The renewable energy concepts provide system operators, such as private investors or commercial enterprises, with references to important resources, thus offering approaches for setting up such systems. For example, they pinpoint potential roof surfaces and open spaces for setting up photovoltaic systems, agricultural enterprises which dispose of usable material in their biogas plants, usable wood for feeding wood-fired cogeneration plants, or settlement areas that are suitable for setting up heat grids.
Both concepts are published by the Rhine-Neckar Regional Association in its series of publications. Continue to publication series.
"Wind energy" sub-regional plan of the regional plan for the Rhine-Neckar-Odenwald region
The "Wind energy sub-regional plan of the regional plan for the Rhine-Neckar-Odenwald region" defines the locations for wind energy use in the Baden-Württemberg sub-area. Corresponding plans are provided for in the "Rhine-Palatinate Regional Spatial Development Plan" for the left side of the Rhine sub-area. These plans designate locations for wind energy systems, giving both local authority districts and investors planning security. A revision and standardisation of the existing concepts are planned within the scope of the Standardised Rhine-Neckar Regional Plan.
