Granny Trude  Care to own part of a wind turbine?

When it comes to protecting the climate, Granny Trude is more than willing to try out new ideas. Her latest discovery is “citizen energy” – and handy solar collectors you can install even on a small balcony.

My Dears,
 
Summer break’s over and I’m back now with my monthly tips and ideas for our environment and sustainable living. I hope you had a nice time over the summer, got some rest and relaxation, and enjoyed the change of pace.  
 
Did you think of me, by any chance, when reading or watching the news or at events in the run-up to the Bundestag elections in late September? Because my main concern, namely climate protection, has been on everyone's lips lately. It’s gradually dawning on more and more people that we’ve got to be put a stop to the climate crisis – and be quicker about it.
 
As you know, I’m always on the lookout for what each of us can do to improve the climate situation. This time around I’ve given some thought to "green investing", in the form of citizens’ energy cooperatives, citizens’ solar power plants and even putting solar panels on your own balcony. It’s a wide-ranging and sometimes complicated subject, but very exciting!
 
The key to it all is renewable energy – which is nothing new to me as a "veteran" environmentalist. What is new, however, is that more and more people are calling on policymakers to back the expansion of clean energy and to remove any obstacles in its way. Before going into detail, let’s get some terms straight.

Photovoltaics versus solar technology: what’s the difference again?

Photovoltaics
Photovoltaic (PV) systems generate electricity. They convert light energy, i.e. solar energy, into electrical energy, i.e. electricity, with the help of photovoltaic cells. This electricity can either be used for one's own power supply or sold to regional grid operators, i.e. fed into a “mains” or power grid.
 
Solar (thermal) technology
Solar thermal collectors are used to generate heat – likewise by means of solar energy. But this use is far less widespread. 

A green generator on your balcony

I have my son Frank to thank for turning me on to this whole subject in the first place. He has installed a mini-solar panel on the balcony of his rented flat in Munich and produces his own power. Before that, I didn't even know this was possible! I’d always assumed solar panels belong either on a homeowner’s roof or on a solar farm. But before you go right ahead and order a solar panel online, you’d better talk to your landlord or landlady first, because you need their permission. You also need the consent of a majority of your co-op. In any case, I think it's great that solar panels are nothing exotic anymore. As a matter of fact, the equipment is easy to buy – and cheap. Or you can just rent the whole thing for, say, twenty years.

The next big thing: citizens' energy cooperatives

Ever heard of a citizens' energy cooperative? A bunch of people in my family have already joined one, and you can too! You join forces with other people and buy shares in a cooperative to use renewable energy – produced on a decentralized and non-corporate basis. The cooperatives supply clean green energy generated by setting up wind turbines or solar energy plants, for example, or they operate charging stations for electric cars.
 
I recently became a member of such an energy cooperative. That means I co-own all its installations – which I find awfully exciting! So I own a piece of a wind turbine, even if it’s just a screw… I like that idea! Plus there's a return on the investment – what more can you ask? You can buy a share for as little as €100. So it was a cinch to win over my friend Inge, and we’ve already had the pleasure of waving to "our" wind turbine in passing on a recent excursion.

Citizen solar

Are there any other ways to do your part to protect our endangered climate? Well, you can invest in a jointly operated “citizen solar system”. €1,000 and you’re in. It’s a pretty safe investment, too, because the returns can be forecast pretty accurately. At least that’s what I read. The profits are divvied out among the shareholders. Most of these citizen solar systems generate electricity, so you’re basically financing a photovoltaic system. The solar panels are often installed on the roofs of public buildings by a local citizens' initiative, association or the municipality itself.
 
You might also want to look into solar funds, which may be another worthwhile investment. Enter terms like "green investing" or "sustainable” or “ethical investment" in your search engine and you’re bound to find some more good green ideas.
 
Personally, I don't like windy weather, my ears get cold! Lately, however, I’m always hoping for plenty of wind – at least at an altitude of 200 metres and blowing at "my" wind turbine ;-).
 
Take care, my dears, stay well and don't let the autumn winds blow you away!
Your Trude

September 2021