Climate and energy
Baden-Württemberg, as a highly-developed industrial region, is fully aware of its climate protection responsibilities. It will therefore meet both its national and European reduction obligations. Baden-Württemberg approved its climate protection concept for 2010 in 2005. This specifies measures to reduce its CO2 emissions by 2-4 million metric tons by 2012 (average value for 2008-2012). This reduction will be in addition to that achieved through Federal Government measures. The climate protection concept is presently being extended to the year 2020 and beyond.
Baden-Württemberg embraces the aims of increasing the use of renewable energies and achieving improvements in energy efficiency.
Renewable energies
Baden-Württemberg strongly supports the use of solar energy and in this sector leads the way in Germany. The use of biomass is also encouraged, for instance through the biomass action plan of Baden-Württemberg. The state already has some bio energy villages that meet their entire energy requirements from bio energy and solar energy (bioenergiedorf-mauenheim.de).
Energy from geothermal sources is also strongly promoted in Baden-Württemberg. There is sufficient geothermal energy available to support the construction of geothermal power stations in the Upper Rhine Plain. The government of Baden-Württemberg has provided €1 million to cover exploration risks.
Hydroelectric power is already intensively used – especially through a number of large hydroelectric power stations along the Rhine. The catchment areas of the Rhine, Danube and Neckar are currently being evaluated for further potential.
Energy efficiency
The three main initiatives of Baden-Württemberg to increase energy efficiency in existing buildings (Zukunft Altbau, KlimaschutzPlus and EnergieSparCheck) are being continued. One of the measures envisaged is to publicise and reward good examples of energy efficiency improvements to buildings and to publish the results and experience gained.
Baden-Württemberg’s new Klimaschutz- und Energieagentur [Climate Protection and Energy Agency] and its 28 regional energy agencies are without precedent either nationally or internationally and provide unique impartial advice and support for local communities, businesses and citizens on all aspects of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies.
Renewable Heat Act
The Erneuerbare-Wärme-Gesetz [Renewable Heat Act] of Baden-Württemberg came into force on 1st January 2008 and governs the obligation to use renewable energies for the heating of new and existing residential buildings. The requirements were replaced for the new buildings sector by federal legislation - the Erneuerbare-Energien-Wärmegesetz [Renewable Energies Heat Act] - of 1st January 2009, which lays down requirements for all new buildings (both residential and non-residential). Since 1st May 2011 the act has been extended to existing public buildings in case of an extensive renovation.
Baden-Württemberg's Erneuerbare-Wärme-Gesetz [Renewable Heat Act] of 1st January 2010 makes it compulsory to use renewable energies for the heating of existing residential buildings - the first state to impose such a requirement. Owners of residential buildings for which a retrofit of the heating facility takes place have an obligation to use renewable energies for at least 10% of their heating requirements. In addition to the use of solar thermal energy, geothermal energy and biomass, including biogas and bio-oil, as well as the use of heat pumps to derive heat energy from the environment and waste energy sources, the legislation also envisages a number of alternative ways to meet its requirements.
Klick for further information [PDF]
Support for climate protection measures by local communities and businesses
Baden-Württemberg supports the efforts of its cities and local communities to improve energy efficiency through its KlimaschutzPlus initiative. Support is also available from Federal Government programmes for local communities.
Baden-Württemberg and its local authorities intend to publish a joint declaration on the improvement of the energy efficiency of their buildings.
In addition to the programmes to support local public transport and agricultural practices that have a low impact on the environment and are energy efficient, Baden-Württemberg is currently providing €16 million per annum to promote climate protection measures, the use of renewable energies, energy management systems, combined heat and power generation and advice for local communities, production firms and individuals.
Adaptation to climate change
Baden-Württemberg responded to the need to mitigate the impact of unavoidable climate change very early on. Many years of systematic research have already gone into the effects of climate change on all areas of life. The findings of this research will be used to develop the necessary adaptation measures.
A concept has been drawn up to improve the energy efficiency of buildings owned by the State of Baden-Württemberg and for the use of renewable energies. An additional €25 million will be invested in this field every year from 2010 onwards.
Baden-Württemberg embraces the aims of increasing the use of renewable energies and achieving improvements in energy efficiency.
Renewable energies
Baden-Württemberg strongly supports the use of solar energy and in this sector leads the way in Germany. The use of biomass is also encouraged, for instance through the biomass action plan of Baden-Württemberg. The state already has some bio energy villages that meet their entire energy requirements from bio energy and solar energy (bioenergiedorf-mauenheim.de).
Energy from geothermal sources is also strongly promoted in Baden-Württemberg. There is sufficient geothermal energy available to support the construction of geothermal power stations in the Upper Rhine Plain. The government of Baden-Württemberg has provided €1 million to cover exploration risks.
Hydroelectric power is already intensively used – especially through a number of large hydroelectric power stations along the Rhine. The catchment areas of the Rhine, Danube and Neckar are currently being evaluated for further potential.
Energy efficiency
The three main initiatives of Baden-Württemberg to increase energy efficiency in existing buildings (Zukunft Altbau, KlimaschutzPlus and EnergieSparCheck) are being continued. One of the measures envisaged is to publicise and reward good examples of energy efficiency improvements to buildings and to publish the results and experience gained.
Baden-Württemberg’s new Klimaschutz- und Energieagentur [Climate Protection and Energy Agency] and its 28 regional energy agencies are without precedent either nationally or internationally and provide unique impartial advice and support for local communities, businesses and citizens on all aspects of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies.
Renewable Heat Act
The Erneuerbare-Wärme-Gesetz [Renewable Heat Act] of Baden-Württemberg came into force on 1st January 2008 and governs the obligation to use renewable energies for the heating of new and existing residential buildings. The requirements were replaced for the new buildings sector by federal legislation - the Erneuerbare-Energien-Wärmegesetz [Renewable Energies Heat Act] - of 1st January 2009, which lays down requirements for all new buildings (both residential and non-residential). Since 1st May 2011 the act has been extended to existing public buildings in case of an extensive renovation.
Baden-Württemberg's Erneuerbare-Wärme-Gesetz [Renewable Heat Act] of 1st January 2010 makes it compulsory to use renewable energies for the heating of existing residential buildings - the first state to impose such a requirement. Owners of residential buildings for which a retrofit of the heating facility takes place have an obligation to use renewable energies for at least 10% of their heating requirements. In addition to the use of solar thermal energy, geothermal energy and biomass, including biogas and bio-oil, as well as the use of heat pumps to derive heat energy from the environment and waste energy sources, the legislation also envisages a number of alternative ways to meet its requirements.
Klick for further information [PDF]
Support for climate protection measures by local communities and businesses
Baden-Württemberg supports the efforts of its cities and local communities to improve energy efficiency through its KlimaschutzPlus initiative. Support is also available from Federal Government programmes for local communities.
Baden-Württemberg and its local authorities intend to publish a joint declaration on the improvement of the energy efficiency of their buildings.
In addition to the programmes to support local public transport and agricultural practices that have a low impact on the environment and are energy efficient, Baden-Württemberg is currently providing €16 million per annum to promote climate protection measures, the use of renewable energies, energy management systems, combined heat and power generation and advice for local communities, production firms and individuals.
Adaptation to climate change
Baden-Württemberg responded to the need to mitigate the impact of unavoidable climate change very early on. Many years of systematic research have already gone into the effects of climate change on all areas of life. The findings of this research will be used to develop the necessary adaptation measures.
A concept has been drawn up to improve the energy efficiency of buildings owned by the State of Baden-Württemberg and for the use of renewable energies. An additional €25 million will be invested in this field every year from 2010 onwards.
