Intermunicipal cooperation through the bundling of competences is what the platform “Regionalwerk Unterallgäu” stands for when it comes to sustainable energy transition projects in the electricity, heat and mobility sectors. The BBH group devised a participation model that enables the 29 municipalities and the respective administrative district to decide on a case-by-case basis whether an investment in a project is desired and possible. 

At the heart of the model is the formation of the intermunicipal German limited liability company Regionalwerk Unterallgäu GmbH, which operates for profit and provides services in the general interest. It has a seed capital of EUR 1.3 million and is jointly owned by the municipalities involved. This company will be in charge of developing the projects and will sell the plans and project rights to independent project companies that will implement and operate the individual projects. This way, the municipalities are free to choose the project companies in which they would like to invest, which ensures transparency and freedom of action. Third parties may also participate in the project companies.

“This structure means that municipalities have the flexibility to deliberately invest in projects that correspond to their objectives, thereby driving the energy transition as needed,” emphasises Oliver Eifertinger, partner and lawyer at BBH. BBH partner and lawyer Wolfram von Blumenthal adds: “This model encourages involvement at local level, e.g. by citizens’ energy cooperatives or companies participating in the project companies. The majority of the shares will remain in municipal ownership, which will strengthen the regional value added. The structure developed by BBH ensures a legally sound and flexible foundation, which enables the municipalities and the civil society to participate in sustainable energy projects.”

Once the platform is launched, the company will strive to implement several PV projects including ground-mounted installations and an agrivoltaic system that combines solar electricity production and agricultural land use. The sites for these projects are located in the municipalities of Erkheim, Niederrieden, Ottobeuren, Sontheim and Wiedergeltingen. The Regionalwerk Unterallgäu GmbH will be in charge of project development and preparation. Over the next few weeks, the participating bodies will decide on their involvement in the newly founded Regionalwerk GmbH. It is planned to launch the company in what remains of 2024, thus setting the course for a sustainable, municipal energy transition in the Unterallgäu region.

With more than 700 employees, 7,000 clients and 7 offices, the BBH group is a leading provider of advisory services to energy and infrastructure companies and their customers. Energy and supply companies, particularly public utilities, municipalities and local authorities, industrial companies and international groups are among its core clients. The BBH group assists these and many other companies and organisations with legal, business and strategic advice.

Contact:                                                                            
Prof. Dr. Ines Zenke                                                       
Rechtsanwältin/Lawyer, Partner                                          
Phone +49 (0)30 611 28 40 - 179                                      
ines.zenke@bbh-online.de                                        

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