Chemnitz named Solar Capital and Solar Champion 2022
Chemnitz is a pioneer when it comes to climate protection. At the beginning of September, Chemnitz was named Germany's solar capital among cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants by WirtschaftsWoche magazine after analysing the Federal Network Agency's market master data register.1) The comparison portal for solar installations "Selfmade Energy" also analysed the Federal Network Agency's register and awarded Chemnitz the title of "Solar Champion 2022". According to the portal, this is intended to recognise and honour the efforts of citizens who are actively helping to shape the energy transition. The analysis shows that a total of 248 new systems were connected to the grid in Chemnitz between January and July 2022. With an increase of 13.4 per cent, Chemnitz is above the national average, which was 7.7 per cent in this period. Last year, 286 systems were added in Chemnitz (+18.2 per cent). In the 2050 German cities, an average of +12.7 per cent of new solar systems for electricity generation (photovoltaics) were installed in 2021. (Source: Selfmade Energy)
Overall, the city of Chemnitz has made significant progress in climate protection. In addition to efficiency and sufficiency, this also includes the reduction of greenhouse gases through the expansion of renewable energies. It is important for the city of Chemnitz to further expand the potential of solar energy, especially on already sealed surfaces, not only in view of the worsening climate changes, but also with regard to the regional energy supply.
In the so-called watt competition, in which the data from the market master data register is analysed, Chemnitz ranks among the top of all participating cities.(https://plattform.wattbewerb.de/ranking)
Saxony's Energy and Climate Protection Minister Wolfram Günther describes photovoltaics as one of the key technologies of the energy transition in Europe. On the initiative of Saxony and SMEKUL, the Free State is to become the centre of the European solar renaissance.2)
The regional mapping of the entire value chain, from the manufacture of photovoltaic modules to energy generation, is the basis for independence from energy imports from abroad, job creation and greater climate protection.
The city of Chemnitz has been promoting renewable energies from the production of photovoltaic modules to local energy generation and self-consumption since 1993 with the first adopted energy concept. Since 2010, Chemnitz has been undergoing the international European Energy Award certification process, which aims to analyse and improve municipal energy and climate protection policy. In 2015, Chemnitz was awarded the highest honour, the Gold Award, for the first time. This status has been confirmed to date.
In 2006, the city of Chemnitz drew up criteria and a concept for the establishment of photovoltaic systems in particular. Against this background, old landfill sites, open spaces affected by contaminated sites (after securing or remediation), railway wasteland and other sealed areas were offered for the installation of ground-level photovoltaic systems, including several municipal areas. Where necessary, special development plans have been drawn up for this purpose. Municipal buildings are also utilised, including for community solar systems. The municipal systems have a total output of 148.49 kWpeak.
The City of Chemnitz is continuing to promote the installation of photovoltaic systems in the city, both on the city's own roofs and in the form of co-operative projects.
Housing companies, private homeowners and industrial and commercial enterprises are also investing in rooftop photovoltaic systems.