Solar systems can also be set up on agricultural land. The Greens still see large reserves in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The state government is responding.
Schwerin (dpa/mv) – In response to the sluggish approval of solar systems on open spaces, the state government is increasing the pressure on its own authorities. “Since September 1st, if an application is not answered within four weeks in the internal coordination with the authorities, this is considered approval,” said Energy Minister Reinhard Meyer (SPD) on Friday in the state parliament in Schwerin. This should significantly speed up the processing of existing applications.
The Greens MP Hannes Damm had previously complained about the sluggish pace of the expansion of solar power generation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Federal law now grants significantly more options than are permitted in the country, especially when it comes to building solar parks along highways and railway lines. With the help of so-called target deviation procedures, there is a possibility in the country, but this has so far had little effect.
“We need a simple approval procedure with clear criteria, without room for speculation and frills, where everyone involved knows where the journey is going,” said Damm. He sees potential for the construction of solar parks above all in drained moor areas, some of which are to be rewetted. In total, it is about 23,000 hectares. It is also important to make better use of roofs and surfaces that have already been sealed.
According to Meyer, 5,000 hectares of agricultural land can be approved for the construction of solar systems via target deviation procedures. Since it came into force a good year ago, 70 applications have been received, covering a total of 4,800 hectares. As was announced during the debate, two of the motions have been finally processed.
In addition to wind power, the sun will play a decisive role in the desired energy transition towards climate-friendly and independent power generation. According to information from the industry, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania had about one percent of the 1.8 million solar systems in Germany last year. With a good 2,000 megawatts peak, the installed output accounted for around four percent of the total output. This suggests that large-scale plants in particular supply electricity along the motorways and that private house roofs in the north-east are still used comparatively little.
Speakers from several parliamentary groups pointed out in the state parliament debate that the expansion of wind and solar power generation must go hand in hand with the expansion of the power grid and the creation of storage options. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which generates 80 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, has been producing significantly more electricity for years than its citizens and the state’s economy consume.
