Bonn/Simmern, 31 August 2023 – The Rhine-Hunsrück district is the first district in Germany to be awarded the ERNEUERBAR district certificate in platinum. This means that all businesses, public administration, societies and associations in the district can now prove that 193% of their electricity consumption is covered by electricity from local renewable energy sources. The plants in the Rhine-Hunsrück district thus produce almost twice as much electricity as all the inhabitants and companies in the district would consume mathematically if they were to require exactly the German per capita consumption.
From left: Stefan Gsänger (Global100RE), Volker Boch (District Mayor Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis), Johannes Lackmann. Foto: Verena Kaspar / RHE
District Mayor Volker Boch is pleased about the award: “This nationwide appreciation for the development of our region with regard to climate protection is a great honour for our municipalities, companies and citizens, who have done this pioneering work together. At the same time, it is an incentive for us to consistently develop the regional energy transition further. We can prove that we can be a role model not only in the production of energy, but also in saving and storing energy,” said District Administrator Volker Boch, “I am convinced that we can and will develop further pioneering projects.”
The certificate was presented to him by Stefan Gsänger, board member of the Bonn-based Global 100% Renewable Energy Platform, and Johannes Lackmann, member of the expert advisory board and initiator of the ERNEUERBAR-Kreis project. Lackmann explained the background: “We want to award those who contribute to the transformation of our energy system with real plants on site. The electricity is produced here, with the plants that citizens see every day. That is much more honest than if a company only buys virtual guarantees of origin, calculates its electricity consumption green and in really only transfers money to the operators of Norwegian hydropower plants.”
Stefan Gsänger emphasised that the introduction of the certificate is an instrument for his association to drive competition among municipal actors for a top position in the expansion of renewable energies: “For 100% renewable energies, we need the expansion of wind, sun, biomass and co. everywhere, in Germany and internationally. Local commitment is the key to this. As a global platform, we are launching this award in Germany because there are lighthouse municipalities here that are developing both national and international charisma. That is why we are particularly pleased to award the Rhine-Hunsrück district, as it is undoubtedly a supra-regional role model.”
The project advisory board of the Global 100% Renewable Energy Platform includes energy economists such as Professor Uwe Leprich, former district presidents and district councillors who are committed to the local energy transition.
Now every company in the Rhine-Hunsrück district can advertise the high proportion of renewable energy that is demonstrably used in its production. Anyone who wants to use the logo in their communication, for example on their letterhead, their own website or in their email signature, can write an email to post@erneuerbar-kreis.de or contact the district administration in Simmern: fm.uhle@rheinhunsrueck.de
“We hope that many companies from all regions in Germany will now also apply for the certificate for their district,” says Stefan Gsänger, inviting companies and administrations from all over Germany to join in. More information can be found at www.erneuerbar-kreis.de.
(This press release has been originally published in German language on www.erneuerbar-kreis.de)