Category: Region, State, District

Rhein – Hunsrück, Germany

Schönburg Castle, Flaggenwiese, Rhein-Hunsrück, Germany

  • Target: 100% renewable energy by 2020 based on local sources
  • Status: Achieved
  • RES: Hydropower, wind power, solar photovoltaics, and biomass.
  • Implementation: The District of Rhein-Hunsrück is located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in southwestern Germany. When the District set the target to entirely switch its energy system to one based on efficiency and local, renewable sources by 2020, it was in part due to the need to cease energy imports which was costing the district millions each year.

    In 2010, only 65% of Rhein-Hunsrück’s electricity was sourced from renewable energy. But by 2012, the District had become a renewable electricity exporter. Some of the surplus is used for running electric heat pumps, for methane created from excess wind and solar electricity, and for charging electric battery and fuel cell powered vehicles.

    The energy transition in Rhein-Hunsrück took place between 1999 and 2009. It first began with building efficiency improvements, which soon resulted in cost savings of 1.13 million euros. To lower local building energy use, the District implemented passive solar principles and heat pumps connected to ground heat collectors. Technologies made use of abundant local renewable resources such as wood pellet heating, biomass-based district heating, and rooftop PV. By 2009, 269,000 tons of CO2 emissions had been avoided through use of renewable electricity, heat and biofuels, and 12.3 million euros had been saved by avoided import costs for coal, natural gas and mineral oil. In 2010, Rhein-Hunsrück created its first zero-emissions school. Connected to the local district heating grid, the school is fueled with wood chips and a combined heat and power (CHP) unit that utilizes oil from regional rapeseed. By 2010, a total of 93 kW of PV were installed creating 33% more power than the facility consumes.

    Rhein-Hunsrück has invested a total of 7.5 million euros in district heating networks. The systems feed around 10 million m³ of biogas into the natural gas grid each year and save the District the equivalent of 660,500 liters of fossil fuel oil a year. Between 2011-2031, the investment is expected to bring the added value of at least 10.5 million euros due to fuel delivery costs staying within the region. By 2050, the aim is to reach a cost savings of 250 million euros.

    Rhein-Hunsrück makes use of Germany’s Feed-In Tariff law (Renewable Sources Act), and has simple permitting processes in place to ensure that rooftop solar installation is a relatively sound and easy investment. To show its own commitment, the District has installed PV on all public administration buildings. From 2007-2011, total capacity on public buildings jumped ten-fold from 35 kW to 366 kW. To increase community buy-in to the energy transition, educational facilities have been created where young people can learn about renewable energy and ecological stewardship. A public relations campaign focuses on public information, with attention given to making citizens aware of the community and financial benefits in participating in the energy transition.
  • Population: 102,938 (2017)
  • Area: 990.70 km2(382.51 sq mi)
  • Link: (In German) https://www.kreis-sim.de/Klimaschutz/Ziele-Motto-und-Konzept
Schönburg Castle, Flaggenwiese, Rhein-Hunsrück, Germany

Ringkøbing-Skjern, Denmark

Gammelsogn, Ringkøbing Skjern, Denmark

  • Target: 100% renewable energy by 2020
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Bio-energy, wind power, new plus-energy buildings, hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen service stations, and solar power.
  • Implementation: Ringkøbing-Skjern is the largest municipality in Denmark, established in 2007. At its conception, the municipality only met 20% of its energy from renewable sources. However, Ringkøbing-Skjern aims to produce within its boundaries enough renewable energy to cover all consumption by its citizens and businesses by 2020. It has set out an Energy 2020 plan, which aims to have local people, businesses, institutions and non-profits implement energy projects, from testing to development to implementation, in order to stimulate sustainable economic growth within the municipality.

    The Energy 2020 plan includes a top-down and bottom-up leadership structure. From the top, the 100% plan would be lead by the Energy Board, which is made up of local business and organisation representatives, along with municipal officials and staff. The Board would advise the local governing Council, which appoints a Secretariat to coordinate the effort and provide information, marketing and an energy action plan. From the community level, projects of all sizes would be implemented by local citizens, businesses and non-profit organizations. Impetus to engage would be motivated by expected energy savings, environmental benefits, and economic opportunities.

    In relation to the energy target, the plan envisages different types of renewable installations. Ringkøbing-Skjern will take advantage of its large land area and the energy that can be made from farm animal waste and plants. New wind turbines are expected to generate twice as much power as the whole municipality consumes. New buildings will be "plus energy," that is, able to generate more energy than the use. The Council will continue to operate hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen service stations, and public and individual transport are to run on biofuel and electricity. Other technologies currently being used include thermal heat, fjord heat, solar power, solar cells, and wave energy.

  • Population: 57,148 (2014)
  • Area: 1,494.56 km² (577.05 sq mi)
  • Link: https://www.energi2020.dk/english
Gammelsogn, Ringkøbing Skjern, Denmark

Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

  • Target:Comprehensive 100 percent renewable energy target in electricity, heating and cooling, transportation by 2050
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar hot water and photovoltaic installations
  • Implementation: On October 2, 2017, the District of Saanich, British Columbia adopted a 100% renewable energy target for its entire community. It is assessing the feasibility of having all Municipal Buildings become 100% RE by 2025. Efforts began in 2010 when the municipality approved the Saanich Climate Action Plan, with the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33% in the community and 50% in municipal operations by 2020, based on 2007 levels. In 2016, Saanich began developing an RE strategy for each municipal building. The RE retrofit in municipal buildings would provide beneficial examples to the community and the Region.

    Saanich joins Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia and Oxford County, Ontario (three major cities in British Columbia) in committing to 100% renewable energy, all of which have adopted the target for their electricity, heating and cooling, and transportation sectors. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the municipality is home to 115,000 residents. In addition to phasing out fossil fuels by the year 2050, Saanich will also pursue an 80% greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.

    The City's Energy Plan initiative is called 100% Renewable Saanich. Its Terms of Reference can be read here. The plan for the renewable energy transition will  baseline existing energy use, explore different scenarios, engage the community, and suggest monitoring and reporting options.
    Video: Saanich TAP project

  • Population: 114,148 (2016)
  • Area: 103.78 km2 (40.07 sq mi)
  • Link: Saanich Climate Plan
Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Schleswig-Holstein (State), Germany

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

  • Target: 100% renewable energy
  • Status: Achieved - 100% electricity supply from renewable energy in 2014.
  • RES: Wind power, solar power and biomass.
  • Implementation: The German Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein is located in the North of Germany at the border with Denmark. It was the first German federal state to achieve the 100% RE goal. It  boosted its share in renewable energy within only eight years by 70%, starting from around 30% in wind energy in 2006. Today, Schleswig- Holstein covers its entire electricity demand with an energy mix from wind, solar power and biomass. It began in 2010 when the state’s energy policy formulated a target comprising a significantly higher share of renewable energy than 100% until 2020. In 2012, it was even announced that renewable energy would cover the annual gross electricity consumption of Schleswig-Holstein by a minimum of 300% in 2025. This was based on a potential assessment commissioned by the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry for Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas. By meeting this ambitious target, Schleswig-Holstein would not only account for 8% of Germany’s total annual electricity demand, but could also become an important exporter of green electricity. So far, concrete plans have been made in order to reach the 300% target, including the significant expansion of wind energy up to 10.5 GW on-shore and 2.6 GW off-shore. At the same time, solar power will be doubled up to 2.9 GW, while biomass-based energy production is only marginally increased.
  • Population: 2,881,926 (2016)
  • Area: 15,763.18 km2(6,086.20 sq mi)
  • Link: (In german) http://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/Fachinhalte/K/klimaschutz/Downloads/Energiekonzept_2010.%20pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Steinfurt District, Germany

Steinfurt District, Germany

  • Target: 100% climate protection and 100% renewable energy by 2050.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Wind power, solar power and biomass energy.
  • Implementation: The county of Steinfurt in Germany has implemented a 100% Climate Protection masterplan or  “Masterplan 100% Klimaschutz” with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas-emission by 95% until 2050 by reducing the regional power demand by 50% and covering the remaining demand by renewable energy (reference year 1990). To achieve this target, Steinfurt is cooperating with many local and regional actors including: climate activists from the 24 municipalities in the district of Steinfurt, local citizens, regional politicians, regional power companies, companies from the regional business network “Unternehmernetzwerk energieland2050”, experts from the University of Applied Sciences in Münster, external experts for  climate protection, regional tourist promotion offices and other associations. The first phase of the masterplan has concluded, with an analysis of the actual energy data and future energy scenarios. There it was shown that wind power stations, solar or biomass power systems can produce sufficient renewable energy by 2050. Furthermore, the potential of power production will be higher than the predicted power demand in 2050. To achieve sustainable mobility however will require alternative vehicle options like e-mobility, hybrid- or hydrogen-drive.
  • Population: 444,409 (2016)
  • Area: 1,792.097 km2(691.933 sq mi)
  • Link: Amt für Klimaschutz und Nachhaltigkeit
Steinfurt District, Germany

Tasmania, Australia

Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia

  • Target: 100% renewable energy by 2020.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Hydropower, windpower, rooftop solar photovoltaics.
  • Implementation: In 2013, the Tasmanian Government launched a climate action plan the "Climate Smart Tasmania: A 2020 Climate Change Strategy" which outlined the 100% target for the reduction of carbon emissions and help communities adapt to climate change. Based on research and consultation, the plan focused on energy efficiency in existing buildings, monitoring emissions and biodiversity, efficient water use, reducing barriers to utilising renewable energies, training Tasmania’s workforce, electrifying public transport as well as managing and reducing natural hazard risks in the state. By 2014, Tasmania already achieved 93% due to its large hydropower resources. The state did come close to reaching the 100% with wind energy alongside 70MW rooftop solar power. However systems were affected by an energy crisis in December 2015. Between September 2015 and April 2016, the state suffered record low rainfalls, affecting hydropower generation. In December, Tasmania had to return to the production from fossil fuels when the Basslink interconnector with the Australian mainland also failed. However, in May 2016, Tasmania announced that the island was fully powered by renewable energies. Diesel generators and the gas turbine were switched off as heavy rains eased the energy situation. The Energy Supply Plan was subsequently updated to ensure flexible energy generation by prioritising renewable energy sources, with gas and diesel maintained only as a backup system.
  • Population: 526,700 (2018)
  • Area: 68,401 km² (26,410 sq mi)
  • Link: https://reneweconomy.com.au/tasmania-labor-pitches-120-renewables-target-rooftop-solar-boost-34727/
Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia

Traunstein District, Germany

Traunsee, Traunstein, Germany

  • Target: 100% renewable energy
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Hydropower, solar power and biomass energy.
  • Implementation: In 2007, the Traunstein district in the state of Bayern, Germany set the 100% target but it was only formally confirmed by the local government years later in 2013. The time taken was due to the many studies undertaken in the preceding years to examine the renewable energy potential of the region. These studies were conducted by several research institutes and a university. Today the total energy demand in the district is around 660 MWh without industry, and 1005 MWh with industry. In 2013, approximately 490 MWh was already produced from renewable energy sources. Hydropower provides around 146 GWh of this. In recent years, biomass has grown particularly rapidly and now supplies over 140 MWh. Solar power has also expanded significantly, from 18 MWh at the end of 2005 to 68 MWh in 2013. Today the district is continuing to expand its RE portfolio to achieve its long-term target. The district has chosen a community participatory approach to encourage further action. “Sonnenkreis Traunstein” for example was created as a regional network that makes use of local experience and knowledge to increase renewable energy implementation, and to encourage more efforts in energy saving and energy efficiency.
  • Population: 176,290 (2017)
  • Area: 1,533.92 km2 (592.25 sq mi)
  • Link: (In German) https://www.traunsteiner-tagblatt.de/region/landkreis-traunstein_artikel,-667-prozent-des-strombedarfs-in-eigenleistung-erbracht-_arid,119800.html
Traunsee, Traunstein, Germany

Trier (Region), Germany

Trier, Germany

  • Target: Transition from an energy-importing to an energy-exporting region
  • Status: In progress - To date, the RES-plants in the region supplies more than 60 % of the regional electricity demand, thereby saving more than 1.2 Mio. tonnes of CO2.
  • RES: Solar, wind, hydro and biomass.
  • Implementation: In 2011, the region of Trier in Germany was designated as a national "100 RES-Region" and a "Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Region of Competence". The region has accumulated more than 15 years of experience in developing a sustainable regional energy system that focuses equally on energy saving, energy efficiency, and the expansion of renewables. The original motivation behind this was to create an economic alternative to nuclear power and to reduce the dependence from oil, gas and coal. Today, the main goal is to transition from an energy-importing region to an energy-exporting region.  Based on energy studies carried out in 2001 and 2010, the region has adopted a development concept called the ‘Future Strategy Region Trier 2025’, which contains major actions addressing key themes such as energy generation and savings, reduction of GHGs and creating/maintaining added values in the regional energy sector. From 2010, ‘Energy Agency Region Trier’ began cooperating with the ‘Regional Planning Association’ to initiate projects, to consult, inform and connect relevant actors on energy themes – ranging from citizens and communities to architects, planners, energy consultants and other businesses. In 2012 a regional public discourse was launched in order to anchor the energy transition in the region through many workshops, events and internet portals.
  • Population: 110,013 (2017)
  • Area: 117.13 km2 (45.22 sq mi)
  • Link: (In German) https://www.trier.de/umwelt-verkehr/energie-klima/
Trier, Germany

Upper Austria Region, Austria

Hallstatt, Upper Austria, Austria

  • Target: 100% renewable electricity and heat by 2030.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Hydro power, biomass and solar energy.
  • Implementation: Upper Austria is one of 9 regions in Austria. It is the fourth-largest in the country by land area, and the third-largest by population. It borders the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg, as well as Germany and the Czech Republic. The Upper Austrian Energy strategy "Energiezukunft 2030" was launched to integrate climate actions across a number of economic sectors. It also sets the target for the region to reach 100% renewable electricity and heat by 2030. Renewable energy sources currently provide 80.7 % of Upper Austria's total electricity consumption and 44.5 % of its total heat consumption. Also, about 30% of its municipalities already use mainly biomass for heating.
    To achieve its 100% target, Upper Austria has embarked on a range of initiatives. The region was the first state to implement the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, requiring that all new residential buildings must meet stringent energy efficiency standards. It has introduced study programs and vocational training, for example, through its university courses in Green Energy Engineering and Green Energy Installation. The Government works intensively with both companies and citizens, offering expertise and training on energy efficiency, particularly on the refurbishment of buildings. A special program to prevent “energy poverty” was successfully started, as well as a special advisory program: Betriebliche Umweltoffensive, which provides expert advice for companies on environmental issues. Upper Austria has committed to reducing the consumption of fossil fuels by 41% compared to 2005 levels within the transportation sector by 2030. This is important because the region has a strong car manufacturing industry. The Clean Motion Upper Austria program promotes the production of electric vehicles. The Government of Upper Austria also subsidizes the purchase of EVs. The region's E-GEM Program ('Energy saving communities') has resulted almost half of the State’s 444 Communities are implementing their own local energy strategies, especially in the roll-out of smart metering systems.
  • Population: 1,453,948 (2016)
  • Area: 111,981.92 km2 (4,626.25 sq mi)
  • Link: (In German) https://www.land-oberoesterreich.gv.at/12782.htm
Hallstatt, Upper Austria, Austria

Waldviertler Kernland, Austria

Waldviertler Kernland, Austria

  • Target: Energy self-sufficient by 2030
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Hydropower and biomass energy.
  • Implementation: The 13 rural municipalities of the Austrian region of Waldviertler Kernland joined the Austrian initiative Climate and Energy Model Regions in 2010. Today, the region aims to become energy self-sufficient by 2030. This will mean meeting the regional demand for electricity, heat and mobility by only using energy derived from renewable sources. In order to achieve this target it will must extend the regional renewable energy supply from 256 MWh to 409 MWh per year. At the same time the total regional energy demand must decrease from 666 MWh to 409 MWh per year. The 100% target has its origins in a climate protection initiative which was nationally funded by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund from 2009 to 2015. In 2011, many regional studies were conducted including an energy inventory, an energy plan with an implementation strategy, and a potential study for energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energy production. Since then,  an annual technical and monitoring report on regional activities is prepared and submitted. An energy team is in place  consisting of a chairman, an energy manager, local mayors and councillors, municipal energy experts and local entrepreneurs. They would hold 4 – 5  regional technical meetings each year to select and implement the necessary renewable energy infrastructure and energy efficiency projects. Waldviertler Kernland is technically supported by the regional energy agency Energieagentur der Regionen and by Climate Alliance Austria.
  • Population: 13,300
  • Area: 499 km2
  • Link: (In German) https://www.rm-waldviertel.at/index.php?channel=21
Waldviertler Kernland, Austria