Exploration of community solar projects at FH Potsdam

1. The Citizen Power Project
A reseach project at IxDS &
Fachhochschule Potsdam

2. Change

3. Large-scale
Centralized complexity
Passive consumer
Distributed complexity
Active Coproducer
Small-scale

4. 100 178 296 435 1,105
2,056
2,899
4,170
5,979
9,785
17,193
24,800
29,701
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Juli
2012
Photovoltaic
Photovoltaic capacity in Germany
(in Megawatt)

5. Private individuals
39.4%
Farmers
21.2%
Businesses
19.2%
Developers
8.3%
Trusts/Banks
8%
Utilities (!)
3.9%
Owning photovoltaic
Ownership structure of German photovoltaic capacity 2010.
Total installed capacity 17.4 Gigawatt.

6. Solar spreads fastest in (rural or
suburban) communities with small-scale
interlinked social connections
This is Where it‘s
Happening

7. Berlin
Hamburg
Köln
Frankfurt
Stuttgart
München
Leipzig
Hannover
Dresden
Spacial distribution of PV
Today photovoltaic density is particularly high
in rural areas across south Germany
(Fraunhofer Institut, 2011)
July 2012: Installed solar
capacity was 30 Gigawatt,
covering 5% of Germany’s
power demand.
In 2050 capacity could exceed
120 Gigawatt, covering 20%
of the power demand.
Yet, this would still require
only half of all suitable
rooftop real estate.
In the future, more solar panels
are needed in urban areas
where roof density as well as
power demand are highest.

8. ...But, what about
cityscape solar?
Apparently, the social structures of urban
areas are too heterogeneous & anonym for
enabling a similar dynamic.

9. Wasted Potential!
A survey of Berlin’s rooftops suggest that 50%
of the city’s residential power demand could be
generated on top of its’ own buildings.
(All red and yellow structures are suitable.)

10. Urban
citizen Power?

11. (1)People team up and
pool some money to...
(2) ...build something that
matters together.
(3) They share the costs...
(4) ...and they share the benefits.
The CitizenPower Principle
All community energy projects follow a similar organizing pattern.

12. CITIZEN Power Then

13. CITIZEN Power NOW

14. How might we get more solar
on city rooftops?
Grassroots

15. It‘s the social
Networks!
Organizing impulse workshops,
presentations and practical supports.
Volunteer “solar coachers” from Berlin
helped to launch many other initiatives.

16. A
A.1
A.1.1
A.1.2
A.1.3
A.1.4
A.2
Clear + actionable impulses prompt reciprocal
learning & adoption of ideas & best practice.
Transmitting actionable Know-how &
action oriented information.
Pioneering
Model
Adoptions &
Adaptations
Decentral diffusion networks
Diffusion of PV practice hinges in well-functioning
pioneering models, that prompt adoptions & adaptations.

17. Solarpark
München
Hardern
Solarverein
Berlin
Caputh
Falkensee
Neustrelitz Brandenburg
Düsseldorf
Beelitz
Wandlitz
The Berlin solar association prompted
the launch of more than 15 other solar
initiatives across Germany.
The original model was pioneered by yet
another group from Munich.
The solar group Munich Hardern is the
nucleus of several dozens other solar
projects across Germany.

18. Anita
Sophie Henning
Eckart
Claudia
Klaus
Jürgen
Michael
Julian
Co-designing with:
BERLIN Solar
Association
Potsdam Solar
cooperative

19. Citizen Power
co-design Session

20. (2) Project planning
Contact to solar professionals for
technical and financial plan.
(4) Operations/managment
Yield monitoring, bookkeeping &
management of project stakeholders
(3) Funding
Inviting other people to help
finance the project realization.
(1) Initiation
Searching and
assessing locations
,
Community solar
process & procedure

21. Implementation
•
•
Community Solar
Organization
Solar Installer GridOperator
(DNOs)
Rooftop
Owner
PI
Closing project
contrats
Commission of
solar panels
construction
Connction to
power grid
Operational
startup of solar
panels
Training & Workshops
C
•
•
Technical &
administrative
know-how
technical
management
and project
administration
tools
Intra-goup roles
differentiation
Establishing
local networks
of solar groups
Management & Operations
PI C
•
•
Project sup-
port services
Assistance
with follow-up
projects
Some solar
groups initiate
new projects
25 years of
operation
PRODUCTIVE
COMMUNITESOperational
SOLAR-
PROJECT
PI
Activation/Initiation
PI PI
PI PI
PI PI
•
•
Project Coach
C
Project Initiators
New groups
inspired by
existing solar
projects
Solar-impuls
workshops
Project
initiation
Project Development Team
Solar InstallerRooftop Owner
PI C
Planning & Development
•
•
•
Negotiations
with rooftop
owners
Technical
planning
Earnings
projections
Roof lease
agreement
Technical
concept
Financial &
Business model
PIC
Community Solar
Project-Organization
Funding &
Incorporation
Funding & Incorporation
•
•
Project co-
investors &
members
aquesition
establishing
organizational
& legal entity
INPUTS & OUTPUTS incorporated
OPERATING
ENTITY
1 42 53 6

22. 1) Find projects
and learn.
2) Plan your own
project
3) Fund your
project
4) Manage your
project

24. Find local projects!

25. Individual project page

26. Planning &
Documentation

27. Fundraising

28. Yield Monitoring

29. Money Management

30. Technik

31. Foundation 4
Infrastucture
Runtime
+
Database
Middleware
Styling
+
Client scripts
Markup
OS

32. Thank you!