Saturday, August 21, 2021
Five billion euros required
Municipalities want to build 100,000 solar roofs
The new federal government must put in place an immediate program for solar systems, demands the city union boss Gerd Landsberg. The potential on public buildings is huge, but there is a lack of money. He receives support from Minister of Economic Affairs Altmaier.
The municipalities are demanding an immediate program from the next federal government to install 100,000 solar roofs on public buildings in order to meet the climate protection goals. Five billion euros would have to be made available for this, said the chief executive of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. “This year, the climate targets in the building sector and in other sectors will not be achieved, but there is enormous potential in the area of municipal real estate that is far from being exhausted.”
In addition to the administration buildings, daycare centers, sports facilities or the municipal housing stock could also be included. Although many municipalities have already gone ahead with solar roofs, many cities and municipalities simply lack the money for the rapid expansion, said Landsberg. They are therefore dependent on federal funding. With the solar roof program, the municipalities could become a role model for private homeowners, but also for businesses.
Government does not name any expansion targets for renewable energy
At the end of July, Economics Minister Peter Altmaier also spoke out in favor of more solar roofs. Much more is needed than before, although there are already high expansion goals, he said. “That is why I am in favor of us clarifying very quickly with the federal government, states and municipalities that solar systems, i.e. either photovoltaics or solar thermal energy, or a mix of both, will be installed on all new public buildings. Existing buildings should be installed as quickly as possible, but at the latest to be retrofitted by 2028. ” The same should apply to commercial buildings and large rental housing complexes.
In order to achieve stricter climate targets, many politicians and associations believe that significantly more new wind turbines and solar roofs are necessary. The incumbent black-red coalition has tightened the climate protection law, but has not been able to agree on higher expansion targets for renewable energies as a result.
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