The event, on May 3, saw a range of stakeholders from around Europe visit a solar powered vegetable farm in Kessler, Singen-Bohlingen. The farm has a 122,000 litre heat storage system which powers 800m2 of greenhouses which are home to a variety of vegetables.
During the workshop the participants discussed how good examples of solar power like the farm may be transferred to other regions in the south of Germany or how farmers may be motivated to choose the same efficient and resource-friendly heating systems.
They also learnt that German state subsidies of up to 50 per cent are helping to stimulate investment in solar power but, the Lake Constance Foundation reports, too few groups are making the most of the funding opportunities on offer. The Foundation are now working on different strategies to stimulate further investments and promote the subsidies. Plans include engagement through the media like this article in a local German newspaper as well as promoting the initiatives through COALESCCE and its upcoming peer review.
The region around Lake Constance has become a German hotspot for solar thermal energy systems so it was the perfect location for COALESCCE to study. Other projects in the region include the solar energy villages in Busingen and Liggeringen near Radolfzell and the newly developed solar thermal heating supply in nearby Randegg.
For more information, please contact Dimitri Vedel at [email protected] or on 07732 999547
