Actively Shaping the Energy Transition
Interview with Lothar Beckler, Managing Director of stadtWERKE Feuchtwangen
The municipal utilities of Feuchtwangen are firmly established as a local provider of electricity, water, and gas and play a decisive role in the area of sustainable energy production. In light of legal requirements to increase the share of wind energy, the municipal utilities are actively responding by involving local residents and businesses in the planning process and offering them attractive participation models to promote acceptance and support for their own wind power projects.
In recent years, Stadtwerke Feuchtwangen has founded several subsidiaries to expand its activities in the field of renewable energy. 'In February 2021, we founded nahKraft GmbH, followed by BreitBAND Glasfasernetze SW GmbH in September 2021,' reports Managing Director Lothar Beckler. These steps are part of a comprehensive strategy for decarbonization and for ensuring a sustainable energy supply, which has now made significant progress and can show concrete successes. 'By the end of 2025, we want to have completed the photovoltaic sector, with over 20 MW of additional capacity,' describes Lothar Beckler one of the company's ambitious goals. Another focus is on wind power, where the company has already secured three potential priority wind areas for the construction of its own wind farms.
Focus on Wind Power Projects
The company has set itself the goal of actively contributing to the energy transition. "In Bavaria, a target of 1.8% for wind priority areas has been announced," explains Lothar Beckler. The first wind farm was secured 100% within a short time, which represents a significant achievement. "We are in intensive dialogue with the citizens and show them the citizen participation models for the local industry. We make real citizen participation models that offer high opportunities and very low risks," adds Lothar Beckler. The municipal utilities focus on transparency and communication to gain the trust of the citizens. "The population is actively involved in the planning and we want them to benefit from the advantages of wind power," says Lothar Beckler.
Citizen Participation as the Key
It is emphasized that there are investment opportunities for private individuals and companies to actively participate in the wind power projects. "It is important to us to finance these projects locally and keep control in the region, instead of handing it over to foreign investors who may pay less attention to the interests of the local community," explains Lothar Beckler. The success of this approach is evident in the positive response from the population, which has even surprised the company.
Positive Response
"We hardly encounter any resistance towards the wind power projects," rejoices Lothar Beckler, "the citizens see the benefits and are ready to participate." Another aspect is the creation of foundation models that also allow citizens to benefit from the revenues of the wind power projects, even if they cannot invest directly. "We want to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their financial situation, benefit from the energy transition," emphasizes Lothar Beckler.
Three Wind Farms Are Planned
A total of 15 wind turbines at three locations are planned, which are supposed to generate a significant amount of renewable energy. Lothar Beckler explains that the investments for the wind farms in Bavaria average between 10 and 12 million EUR per wind turbine. "For the planned wind farms, a total investment of about 150 million EUR is expected," the managing director explains. "These wind turbines should not only contribute to the local energy supply but also reduce dependence on fossil fuels and support the climate goals of the region."
The first wind farm is expected to commence operations in 2027, marking an important step towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future. This initiative demonstrates the commitment of the city utilities to actively shape the energy transition and at the same time strengthen the local economy, as Lothar Beckler emphasizes: "Strengthening the domestic industry is very important to us and a personal concern for me, as I was also elected to the full assembly of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for this reason. It is equally important to us that the value creation takes place 'very close' to home. Therefore, we rely on cooperation with local service providers, which I also promote as a board member of the Federal Association for Regional Movement."
Overcoming Challenges
Despite positive developments, Stadtwerke Feuchtwangen faces several challenges. Lothar Beckler points out the bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the expansion of wind farms. "The political framework is crucial for our success," he says. "We must ensure that legal requirements do not impede the development of wind parks," he adds. Nevertheless, the CEO remains optimistic that cooperation with local politics and the community will help overcome these challenges.
Tackling Further Projects
Stadtwerke Feuchtwangen has ambitious plans for the coming years. "We aim to offer only green electricity by 2030 and only green natural gas by 2035," explains Lothar Beckler. To achieve this, close cooperation with biogas plant operators is planned to further advance decarbonization. Another important topic is hydrogen production.
"We have participated in funding projects in Bavaria and received a funding approval for 5 million EUR," reports Lothar Beckler. This allows the company to quickly enter into hydrogen technology and create the infrastructure for it. The expansion of fiber optics is also expected to reach all households by the end of 2026. "We are here to shape the energy transition locally and strengthen the region sustainably," concludes Lothar Beckler.