City Council has adopted strategy and criteria for suitable areas for PV systems
At its meeting on Wednesday, 28 June, Chemnitz City Council adopted the strategy and the catalogue of criteria for the evaluation of suitable areas for photovoltaic systems in the city of Chemnitz.
The strategy provides for the City of Chemnitz to support interested parties in the construction of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems in accordance with Section 35 (1) No. 8b BauGB, i.e. on areas along motorways or double-track railway lines at a distance of up to 200 metres from the edge of the carriageway.
An initial strategy and a catalogue of criteria for the evaluation of suitable areas for the siting of photovoltaic systems in the city of Chemnitz was developed back in 2006. Since then, key framework conditions have changed significantly. The nuclear phase-out, the early coal phase-out and the resulting dependence on natural gas, which has to be imported from abroad, have made it necessary to reassess the use of land for photovoltaics (PV). Photovoltaics (PV) plays an important role as an indigenous, renewable energy source in Chemnitz. Priority for its expansion is still given to the utilisation of buildings - especially roofs and facades - or traffic areas.
However, the necessary expansion requirements for PV on built-up or sealed surfaces cannot be realised quickly enough. Therefore, an increased expansion of PV systems on unsealed surfaces is necessary. Larger outputs can be realised more quickly and cost-effectively with ground-mounted photovoltaic systems (ground-mounted PV systems).
Ground-mounted PV systems are permitted along motorways and double-track railway lines at a distance of up to 200 metres and in existing development plans with commercial or industrial zones. In the city of Chemnitz, this applies to a large number of areas due to the location of two federal motorways and several railway lines. These potentials are to be utilised in a first step.
In three years, it will be evaluated how demand has developed and whether this approach needs to be scrutinised and, if necessary, continued in a few years' time.