Feldheim: The German municipality where energy comes only from biogas, wind, and photovoltaic.

Among the various examples of energy-self-sufficient communities in Germany, one of the best-known is the village of Feldheim . Located about 60 km south of Berlin, it is the first German municipality to become energy independent. The success of this initiative is due to the collaboration between the municipality of Treuenbrietzen, the residents of the town center, and Energiequelle GmbH, the project developer.

Feldheim, an energy self-sufficient municipality

After several years of energy policies favoring alternative sources, involving all residents in a major energy requalification project, Feldeheim took the big step: disconnecting from the national grid . Thanks to wind, biogas, and solar power plants, the village has been completely self-sufficient in electricity and heating for several years.

Here, local homes and businesses are supplied with electricity and heat thanks to their own photovoltaic and wind power systems . The biogas plants , on the other hand, are connected to a local heat and electricity distribution grid.

Some numbers:

• 55 wind turbines
• 9844 photovoltaic modules
• 1 biogas plant
• 1 thermoelectric power plant
• 1 wood chip heating
• 1 local heating and electricity network

Other examples in Germany

The Bundesnetzagentur , the German grid agency, has published the first data on the trend of renewable energy in Germany in the year just ended. In 2024, renewable sources continued to grow, covering 59% of national electricity production , up from 56% in 2023. In absolute terms, out of a total of 431,7 TWh of electricity produced in the country, 254,9 TWh were generated from renewable sources.

As evidence that renewable energy is taking on an increasingly important role among the possible sources of energy supply in Germany, in addition to Feldheim, other municipalities, such as Wildpoldsried (in Bavaria), have achieved notable results.

Wildpoldsried 's biogas plants have been operating for over twenty years. The municipality also has numerous wood chip and pellet heating systems for private homes and farms. Since February 2005, the municipality of Wildpoldsried has been a member of the German Solar League. It currently owns 11 community-owned wind turbines. The town of Greifswald is also committed to this.

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