Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Green industrial areas located in rural and peripheral municipalities
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the federal state with the lowest population density in Germany and has a GDP below the national average. The designated industrial and commercial areas in M-V are not used to their full capacity. To attract new businesses and in this context to create new jobs and increase added value, the aim of the pilot case is the implementation of green industrial areas located in rural and peripheral municipalities. In these areas, different forms of renewable energy (focus on solar energy and wind energy) shall be combined in a way that enables the supply of local businesses with renewable energy to the highest possible degree.
Objectives
The main objective of the pilot case in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a feasibility study which will conduct a location analysis (incl. energy balance), investigate the potential for establishing additional RES and outline technical and planning requirements. In addition, the study will assess the possibility to install energy storage systems. Based on the feasibility study of the selected industrial areas, a transferable methodology for the implementation of green industrial areas will be derived. This transferable methodology will be worked out as a guideline in dialogue with participants of the dialogue forum. The aim is to define minimum standards for green industrial areas in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. On the basis of these minimum standards the label “green industrial area” can be assigned for suitable areas.
Implementation
The pilot will be implemented in industrial areas. In the process, various industrial areas with potential for RES will be selected. For the identification and selection of the potential green industrial areas the following criteria were set up:
- Area size and actual available space,
- Planning status,
- Existing RE plants,
- Power and heating grid,
- Cooperation partners,
- Local commitment
- Development potential (RE, mobility, digitalization, etc.)
In order to identify suitable areas and to discuss the definition, criteria and marketing strategies for green industrial areas, the dialogue forum “Green Industrial Areas in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern” was established.
The following stakeholders participate in the dialogue forum:
- Ministry of Energy, Infrastructure and Digitalization
- Ministry of Economics, Employment and Health
- Regional Planning Associations
- Hamburg Metropolitan Region (working group climate and energy, working group economics)
- Invest in MV (economic development organization Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
- Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
- Energy and Climate Protection Agency Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (LEKA)
- Association of Municipal Companies (VKU e.V.)
The participants accompany the entire process and give input and feedback on output drafts. The dialogue forum will also discuss further development after the project ends. Important stakeholders are also municipalities in which the various industrial areas are located. Continuous contact is important to receive detailed information regarding the area and local planning situation.
The pilot is part of a bigger project launched by the coalition agreement of the current state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The aim is for the pilot to result in a state initiative on green industrial parks.