In GRITH, the District of Emsland is one of the partners tackling the issue of future renewable energy supplies in areas of industry and commerce and developing concrete solutions for selected model regions. Emsland recently showcased the importance of their project and transnational collaboration during an event with companies and politicians in the Meppen district hall.
Motivating the local economy
The energy transition will not succeed without industry and commerce
There are many reasons to tackle transition to green energy on industrial sites. According to Michael Steffens, Head of Department responsible for the district of Emsland, these include the challenges being faced in terms of costs and supply, security, reducing CO2 and the requirements for sustainability. “The energy transition will not succeed without industry and commerce. We must also motivate the local economy to use alternative energy sources.”
Model industrial areas
The economy accounts for more than a third of the total energy demand in Germany. The EU has set a goal of 40% being based on renewables for 2030. In order to achieve this on schedule, GRITH is targeting companies in model industrial areas, to highlight the possibilities of joint solutions for local companies and develop concrete business models. The meeting in Meppen on 29th October also marked the Kick-Off for the project's modeling and optimization phases. In Emsland this will be done together with AVERDUNG Ingenieure & Berater GmbH.
Companies and business development from Rhede (Ems), Meppen and Spelle, AVERDUNG Ingenieure & Berater GmbH and the district administration came together for the event in the Kreishaus. The focus was on the use of renewable energies by companies. (Photo: District of Emsland)
Catalogue of emerging solutions
For Emsland, this means that three business parks in Rhede (Ems), Meppen-Nödike and Spelle - with up to 300 companies altogether - will be integrated into the project. Company and business development managers from the respective municipalities joined other important stakeholders at the recent event, to obtain more detailed information first-hand. Holger Spelsberg, representing GRITH for Emsland, added: “Our final step will be to develop a catalogue of solutions based on the three emerging solutions in the respective business parks.”
Check the project’s progress in Emsland on the GRITH website. You can also follow us on LinkedIn
Top photo: Emsland from above - Emsland Tourismus GmbH