Webinar #4: Innovative Energy Systems and Economic Growth: Realizing Regional Value in Climate Protection – The Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis Model

30.01.2024; 10:00 am - 11:30 am

This webinar offers a deep dive into the Rhein-Hunsrück district's journey to becoming a benchmark in climate protection and energy innovation. We will examine the district's effective strategies for phasing out fossil fuels and the transition to a local, renewable energy supply. Key questions will guide our exploration: What are the most efficient ways to eliminate fossil energy? How can a region successfully adopt local renewable sources? The webinar will confront typical challenges faced by municipalities, including lack of knowledge/expertise, technological and financial barriers, system operation complexities, (local) regulations and land use issues. The webinar will also outline starting conditions, enabling factors as well as solutions that have been implemented to address the typical challenges. Importantly, we will discuss the substantial economic impact of this transition, which resulted in an annual regional value creation of 44 million euros for the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, sustained over a 20-year period. Providing firsthand insights, our speaker is the former District Administrator of Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, Bertram Fleck, who played a pivotal role in the region's transition to sustainable energy.