Local resident participation in the energy transition
Advancing renewable energy together
At BayWa r.e. we are actively involved in the local community. We are convinced that the energy transition can only succeed if our projects enjoy widespread local acceptance. This is why we place emphasis on early, transparent information as well as public participation and promote understanding of our wind and solar energy projects through a variety of initiatives.
At the same time, we are constantly searching for new ways to actively involve local residents in our projects so that the added value is noticed where the project is created. Here is an overview of some of our initiatives.
Black Forest idyll and sustainability: The wind hiking trail in Langenbrand
The wind hiking trail in Langenbrand in the northern Black Forest combines the experience of nature and knowledge transfer in a special way. Originally conceived as an alternative route during construction of the Langenbrander Höhe / Hirschgarten wind farm, the trail has become an integral part of the region.
There are two wooden information boards at each of five locations along the trail, providing insights into the technology and operation of wind energy as well as specific details about the Langenbrand wind farm.
This tourist attraction not only promotes an understanding of renewable energies, but also strengthens the connection between the wind farm and the local community.
We also regularly install information boards in other projects to provide citizens with comprehensive information about wind and solar energy, storage technology and the respective projects.
Soaking up the sun in a different way – Tour of the Kreuth solar park
Thanks to the commitment and trusting cooperation with the municipal administration, the Kreuth solar farm – the largest PV storage project in Regensburg district at the time – was built last year on an area of around 17 hectares with a total output of 15.9 MWp. To express our deepest thanks to the citizens of the town for the successful project and to bring the local energy transition to life for local people, we took part in the local folk festival in July 2024 and invited visitors to a guided tour through the solar park. Participants had the opportunity to take a shuttle bus from our stand at the festival to the nearby solar park. There, they were given an exclusive tour by our project managers and an in-depth insight into solar and storage technology. They were able to test their newfound knowledge directly in a solar park quiz – and of course their efforts were rewarded with great prizes. Marc Krezer, our divisional manager for solar projects in Germany, is very pleased:
“Our team’s good networking with the community played a critical role throughout the entire project phase. With the tours we offered today, we were able to give something back to the residents of Beratzhausen and show them some of the faces behind the scenes. I am delighted with the success of the campaign and the great interest shown.”
Support for local associations and cultural venues
At BayWa r.e., an inclusive and diverse working environment and the health and well-being of our colleagues are important to us. So we are delighted to be able to support the sports clubs and cultural venues based in the local communities. We have succeeded in doing this as part of the Bad Liebenwerda solar farm project and we are proud to support the local football club Wacker in Zobersdorf and in particular the traditional annual disabled football tournament (Elsterwerkstätten).
Another association that we are proud to support is WaldKulturScheune e.V., which was founded in March 2020. The eponymous venue, the Waldkulturscheune, is a place for music lovers and culture enthusiasts, but as per its own description, it is also a venue where you don't actually hear anything.
The farmstead, the oldest part of which is over 300 years old and still preserved today, is located on the edge of the forest right by our Spitalhöfe solar farm in Pfaffenweiler (Villingen-Schwenningen). The association organises cultural events such as concerts, plays, readings and art exhibitions on site at regular intervals. The promotion of “young talented artists” is of particular importance in this.
Being a reliable partner means taking responsibility. At BayWa r.e., we are proud to give back to the community with our social commitments, educational co-operations and local sponsorships.
Educational Initiative: Empowering the Local Young Generation
Graduates of the Montessori Zentrum ANGELL Freiburg develop their own research question on the topic of renewable energies over the course of a school year. BayWa r.e. supports them with specialist and technical knowledge.
Our expert Dr Nora Adams: “The task for the students is to find out how solar farms can promote biodiversity and combat climate change. They developed monitoring concepts to assess biodiversity-promoting measures such as the creation of flower islands, species-rich grassland, the installation of nesting boxes and the planting of native trees. They also suggested ways to increase public awareness and acceptance of solar farms, such as getting schoolchildren involved in monitoring, putting up information boards, spreading the word via social media and conducting public surveys.”
Part of the cooperation was an exclusive tour of our Spitalhöfe solar farm, one of the first in Baden-Württemberg with a battery storage system. During the planning and construction of the facility, a particular focus was placed on preserving and promoting local biodiversity.
Shaping the energy transition together – crowdfunding in Langenbrand
When building the wind farm in Langenbrand, we created an opportunity for the local community to participate directly in the project financially. Citizens from the surrounding areas were able to invest directly in the wind farm via our crowdfunding initiative. This form of investment allowed local investors to benefit from an attractive interest rate of 5.5 % over a 7-year term. With a minimum investment of €500 and a maximum of €20,000, we were able to offer both small and large investors the chance to participate.
The first payout has already been made successfully. We are delighted with the numerous investments and the trust placed in our project.
Bedesbach wind farm festival – a day dedicated to energy and community
We regularly organise festivals to celebrate the commissioning of our wind farms together with the local community – including on 16 October 2022 in Bedesbach.
The wind farm festival offered a great opportunity to experience the energy transition at first hand – for children and adults alike. At the wheel of fortune, participants could answer questions about wind power and win little prizes. Children had the chance to make small kites under professional guidance in a kite-making workshop and feel the power of the wind directly. A renewable energy rally in the circus tent taught visitors about renewable energies in a fun way. After successfully completing all the stations, children were allowed to choose a gift.
Thanks to the support of local associations, visitors were well looked after and our project teams were on hand at the information stands to answer questions and provide interesting insights into the project.
Public participation through the information event in Kammerstein – open exchange for the energy transition
We organise regular information events at our projects to keep the local population informed about the progress and benefits of the planned wind farm. This was also the case in Kammerstein, where we invited local residents to discuss the planned wind turbines with us.
Our experienced project team from the areas of project development, nature conservation and communication was on hand to answer questions from participants in a relaxed atmosphere. Several themed poster walls provided visitors with general information about wind energy as well as project-specific details.
A particular highlight was our interactive VR stand, which allowed participants to virtually immerse themselves in a wind turbine and experience the technology at first hand.
The event provided the ideal opportunity to enter into a direct dialogue, discuss concerns and reflect together on the benefits of wind energy for Kammerstein and the region. The lively exchange showed how important it is to involve the local community in the planning process in order to create a sustainable future together.
Transparency through visualisation – walk in Otterberg
In June 2024, we invited the local residents' initiative from Otterberg, Lower Saxony, to a meeting in form of a visualisation walk to discuss their concerns about our planned wind turbines in an open atmosphere and small groups. Using an augmented reality app developed especially for us, we were able to visualise the 10 planned wind turbines west of the village realistically and in real time in the actual landscape.
This innovative technology was instrumental in creating transparency and properly addressing the concerns of the residents’ initiative.
Formats such as this visualisation walk are of central importance to us as we seek dialogue with the local population at an early stage. In this way, we can also include critical voices and think about possible solutions together.
A community foundation in the Dollenkamp wind energy project – for local people
As part of the Dollenkamp wind farm project, a community foundation is currently being established to enable residents of the neighbouring villages of Istrup, Rheder, Riesel, Schmechten and Siddessen to share in the proceeds from the Dollenkamp wind farm. The foundation will begin its work upon the commissioning of the wind farm and will be established as a ‘perpetual foundation’. The aim is to provide long-term financial support for projects in the five areas and to facilitate new initiatives for the region.
BayWa r.e. is providing the foundation with share capital of €100,000 plus additional start-up funding. In addition, the foundation receives a share of the income every year for the entire operating period of the wind farm. In this way, the wind farm helps strengthen the region and support it in the long term – for a future that benefits everyone.
On a discovery tour with VR glasses – a helicopter flight through the wind farm
At our information events, we regularly use innovative technologies to get the topic of wind energy across in an exciting and interactive way. One particular highlight was the VR goggles with helicopter flight simulation, which were in constant use at the citizens’ information event for the Otterberg and Hassel projects in Lower Saxony. This immersive experience allowed participants to virtually fly through a wind farm and experience the concept of wind power from a completely new perspective.
Collecting info points was a particularly popular activity, where 10 interesting facts about wind energy were conveyed in a fun way. This kind of interactive knowledge transfer was well received by young and old alike.
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