Photo courtesy of http://now.msn.com/germany-sets-yet-another-solar-power-world-record
The southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg raised the bar for renewable energy on May 13, 2013 with the completion of the largest locally owned solar array.
Similarly, a developer of solar panels has also announced that four community-owned projects were completed by the end of April in the southeast state of Bavaria in order to be eligible for that month's feed-in tariffs.
“The citizen-owned wind farm is capable of generating 40 million kWh annually from the 19 MW project and has become a beacon for community ownership in Bavaria” (BWE, Deutsche Windindustrie).
The average size is just over two megawatts and one of the solar arrays went up across two hectares of a former concrete production plant. While these solar panels are providing renewable energy to the community, because they are community-owned the local community also benefits from a land lease for the project.
Shares in the projects were sold starting at 500 euros (645 U.S. dollars) to citizens in nearby communities, making involvement in the project for renewable energy accessible to these communities. These solar projects demonstrate how citizen involvement in photovoltaics (generating electrical power through solar radiation, otherwise known as solar energy) is not only limited to homeowners.
Coverage thanks to Craig Morris, Renewables International and BWE, Deutsche Windindustrie.
http://www.renewablesinternational.net/more-community-solar/150/510/62690/
http://www.wind-energy-market.com/de/startseite/nachrichten/detail/bp/153/article/bayerns-groesster-buergerwindpark-offiziell-eroeffnet/
Earth Action update thanks to Paul Gipe. Learn more about his cause at to http://www.wind-works.org/cms/
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