Billions for Northern Hesse

In order to calculate regional value, the research team from the Department of Economics, with a focus on decentralized energy management (Prof. Dr. Heike Wetzel), analyzed the economic procurement and use chains of renewable energy projects. The researchers came up with impressive figures: Between 2000 and 2018, around 4.47 billion euros were provided for renewable energy projects in the electricity sector in Northern Hesse. Around 43 percent of this amount remained in the region within the scope of regional value creation - this corresponds to a total of 1.93 billion euros.

"The region of Northern Hesse has already achieved above-average results in the expansion of renewable energies in the electricity sector. The figures for 2018 show: The share of just under 56 percent of electricity consumption accounted for by renewable energies is higher than the share in Germany with 37.8 percent and in Hesse with 22.2 percent," says Dr. Ines Wilkens, head of the study.

As for the regional value added the lion's share is accounted for by photovoltaics - it accounts for around 61 percent of value added. Which surprised the researchers: Wind power comes only in third place, followed by value creation from biomass. "Since the expansion of wind power only became more intensive from 2014 onwards, the effects of it could just be included in the overall result for a few years. Increasing contributions to regional value creation can be expected here in the coming years," explains Dr. Wilkens.

The figures also show: since 2013 the expansion of photovoltaics has declined sharply, so that the current high regional value added by this technology, is expected to decline sharply from 2033. The same applies to wind energy, which is currently experiencing very low growth rates. "In order to achieve the goals of the Federal Government, but also those of the State of Hesse for an energy turnaround, new impulses are therefore needed to give a greater boost to investment in renewable energy systems," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Heike Wetzel.

She sees Northern Hesse on the right track: With the resolution of the regional management of North Hesse for an energy turnaround charter a broad alliance from economics and politics put itself ambitious goals for the conversion of the energy turnaround. 100 percent renewable energy supply in the areas of electricity, heat and mobility is to be achieved by 2040".

The cdw foundation gGmbH from Kassel financed the study. "Northern Hesse has a concentrated competence for the energy turnaround from the fields of science, politics and economy", says Thomas Flügge, managing director of the cdw foundation. "That is why it is right for us to move forward with the expansion of decentralized, climate-friendly energy supply. The clarity with which the University of Kassel has confirmed the economic benefit for the region is an important element in the acceptance of the upcoming measures".

The study is available online at

www.uni-kassel.de/go/RWS_Nordhessen

Link to the Energy Turnaround Charter North Hesse:

www.deenet.org/energiewende-charta-nordhessen/

Contact us:

Dr. Ines Wilkens

Ines.wilkens[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

Prof. Dr. Heike Wetzel

Heike.wetzel[at]uni-kassel[dot]de