Border municipalities collaborate on renewable energy initiative

In a bid to enhance sustainable practices, Alfred Wirtz, mayor of Ralingen in Germany, and his counterpart from Rosport-Mompach in Luxembourg, have initiated a collaborative effort on renewable energy. These neighbouring municipalities, collectively home to around 6,000 residents, have a history of working together on issues such as wastewater disposal, drinking water supply, sports, culture, and leisure.

The latest venture focuses on maximizing the use of local renewable energy sources (RES). "Both municipalities see the establishment of a borderless energy region as a common path to an independent and cost-efficient energy supply based 100% on local renewable energy," Alfred Wirtz explains.

Inspired by the European Union’s push for renewable energy and the creation of cross-border energy communities (CBEC), Ralingen and Rosport-Mompach aim to create their own CBEC. However, navigating the different implementations of EU directives has posed challenges, particularly regarding terminology and cross-border participation in CBEC. Existing legal instruments such as the European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation and local groupings for cross-border cooperation are only suitable for the establishment of a CBEC to a limited extent. Additional legal uncertainties in connection with local cross-border electricity generation, trading and consumption make the establishment of EGTCs even more difficult.

To overcome these hurdles, the municipalities sought guidance from b-solutions expert Thomas Stumm. Thomas Stumm provided a comprehensive analysis of the legal complexities, offering a clear framework for establishing the energy community. He suggested that European Economic Interest Groupings or European Cooperatives could serve as suitable legal frameworks for the CBEC. Furthermore, he recommended submitting an Interreg project to evaluate the legal, technical, and economic feasibility of cross-border energy sharing.

The mayor of Ralingen expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of their engagement with b-solutions. "Participation in b-solutions achieved the desired result. The detailed description of the obstacles provided a good insight and a leap in knowledge for all involved," he notes.

He emphasises the importance of legislative support in facilitating cross-border energy projects. "We hope that legislators will work on solutions to make cross-border energy projects easier, encouraging joint initiatives to become a norm. It must be desired from the highest level that such projects are tackled and implemented," he concludes.

This collaboration between Ralingen and Rosport-Mompach stands as a testament to the potential of cross-border cooperation in achieving a sustainable energy future. By addressing legal uncertainties and promoting the use of renewable energies, the two municipalities are paving the way for a greener, more unified energy landscape.