‘GUTE PLANUNG’: Sustainable Solar Park Development In Germany

In compliance with the COP28 energy transition commitment and subsequent regional nationally determined contribution (NDC), the need for open-air large-scale PV plants or solar parks is growing exponentially. One of the key questions of the energy transition is how the expansion of open-air photovoltaic (PV) systems with a large amount of land can positively impact environmental, nature conservation, agriculture, and regional value creation. In the context of the German market, the latest Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) set the target for the expansion of renewable energies for PV of 215 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and 400 GW in 2040, which translates into 77,500 hectares of land requirement in the next 7 years.

At the TaiyangNews Solar & Sustainability 2024 Virtual Conference, Bernhard Strohmayer, head of renewable energy (RE) for bne, gave a keynote presentation on the topic Good planning – Best practices for ground-mounted photovoltaic systems (see bne presentation here). His presentation was focused on sustainability in the planning and permitting process under a voluntary commitment to improve and ensure public acceptance of the expansion of German solar parks.

Voluntary commitment

The contractual framework for this voluntary commitment was drafted by the bne in 2020, followed by an update in 2023. Under this voluntary commitment, Solar developers, or independent power producers (IPP) in Germany can use the GUTE PLANUNG special logo to show their solar park’s sustainable planning, permitting, and a balancing act between agriculture and biodiversity. The voluntary commitment is classified into 5 areas of permitting and planning as best practices – Commitment A: local communities, administration, and local people; Commitment B: farmers, solar parks in an agricultural context; Commitment C: land use with integration into the landscape; Commitment D: Biodiversity in PV; and Commitment E: Planning, Implementation, Technology, and operation. Out of the 5 classifications, Strohmayer focused on Commitments A and D.

Commitment A - local communities, administration, and local people

Although local municipalities in Germany are elected every 4 to 6 years and are not experts in planning, they are responsible for deciding on large projects in rural areas, says Strohmayer. During the decision-making process regarding new solar power plants or wind farms, the bne will support everyone involved in the planning stages. In line with obligations to local communities, administrations, and residents, the first step is comprehensive and early participation, along with the sharing of information with municipalities, local councils, and the public about various aspects of the solar park project. These aspects include planning steps, the techno-commercial principles of the solar park (such as PPA-based or subsidized models), and project-specific participation opportunities – whether direct or indirect. The second step involves companies committing to provide financial benefits to the municipality within the legal framework. Under current energy policies in Germany, it is possible to offer benefits of 0.2 euro cents/kWh to the municipality in a legally secure manner. This ensures that local municipalities and residents can benefit from a well-managed planning process, explained Strohmayer.

Commitment D – increase biodiversity

Getting experiences from previous instances of conflicts of interest between environmental organizations and solar park developers, the voluntary framework proposes an enhanced biodiversity approach for solar parks. Measures like using non-toxic fertilizers, planting native seeds, and fostering natural greening within the solar park area, through a combination of communication and commitment, actively promote biodiversity. Additionally, improving insect habitats within the solar park – by creating suitable environments for these insects, which serve as food for birds, bats, and mammals – will further enhance the park’s biodiversity. According to Strohmayer, all of these measures can only be achieved through a project-specific approach and proper planning, which includes maintaining optimal spacing between module rows to improve sunlight exposure. These biodiversity-enhancing steps are key to ensuring acceptance for the expansion of ground-mounted solar projects in Germany. The bne is currently working on policy initiatives for the comprehensive management of solar park areas, including specifications for area maintenance, project-specific mowing schedules, and site-specific concepts for agriculture and nature compatibility, added Strohmayer.

Working principle

The working principle of voluntary commitment is straightforward and transparent for all involved. It focuses on implementation, self-certification, and testing mechanisms, added Strohmayer. The process begins with the preparation of a commitment and well-documented planning materials, which are then licensed to individual companies through a license agreement, accompanied by terms and conditions for the use of the 'GUTE PLANUNG' logo. These terms stipulate that a self-certification mechanism must be implemented by the individual companies, explained Strohmayer. After the self-certification process, the licensed company is designated as a 'good planning company,' and the bne lists these companies on their open portal. Everything, including the terms and conditions and the commitment itself, is publicly accessible, and the bne continuously updates the list of 'good planning' companies. Additionally, the bne is creating a database of well-planned solar parks in Germany, allowing users to check if the planning has been adjusted according to the commitment. It also aims to establish a database of monitoring results.