On Thursday, May 4th, 2023, the Elektrizitätswerke Hindelang, one of DECIDE’s pilot partners, celebrated their 100-th birthday. Andreas Klär, CEO of EWH presented not only the history of one of Germany’s pioneers in local renewable energy generation, but also pointed out a roadmap towards reaching climate neutrality by 2040 –for the sectors electricity, heat and mobility. Electrification of transport and partially of heat, which will be the hardest field to tackle, implies that Bad Hindelang would require not only a high generation increase of PV (both rooftop and ground-mounted PV), but also a wind turbine in the valley to support renewable harvest in winter. As he pointed out frequently, this will not be possible without the participation of the locals, specifically sharing benefits; a strategy that was well received by the audience.

Further representatives of DECIDE were Ludwig Karg, B.A.U.M consulting, and Dr. Sonja Klingert, University of Mannheim