With about 26,000 visitors from 40 countries the ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week (1-4 June 2016, BITEC Bangkok) is one of ASEAN’s largest exhibitions on renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental technology. The Renewable Energy Project Development Programme (PDP) took part  in many activities there:

A milestone for the project’s work was an event organized by the project’s partner PPP (Public Participatory Promotion, office under the Thai Ministry of Energy). 15 governmental and community representatives signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the Thailand Community Energy Network (TCEN). GIZ is a direct partner of the established network and has provided advisory services in former PPP events. This is a big step to establish Thai-German renewable energy communities.

PDP has joined PPP’s exhibition booth and shared knowledge on the German example of renewable energy communities and their role in the ongoing energy transition.  Visitors were attracted by the circulating wind turbines of the exposed community model of Feldheim, which is one of the most famous energy communities in Germany, supplying all its electricity and heat through local renewable energy sources.

In another activity, the PDP project organised a poster exhibition informing about the challenges and existing solutions of integrating fluctuating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to the existing grid. The exhibition’s content was developed by Renac (Renewables Academy) within the framework of the “Capacity Development on Renewable Energy and Grid Integration” programme. Numerous questions were asked by visitors and beeing located in front of the conference rooms, the exibition got a lot of attention.

These 4 days were full of interesting activities and conversations. We are looking forward to next years’ ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week!

The village of Feldheim, located in the East of Germany, supplies power and heat for its 145 inhabitants with entirely local renewable resources. Electricity is generated by modern wind farms and a photovoltaic solar energy park built on a former military base. Heat is produced by a biogas plant fueled by wood chips. Electric vehicles are also included in Feldheim’s energy concept.

Over the past 20 years Feldheim transformed from a dozy village to an important touristic and economic location based on renewable energy technologies and being a showcase community. Financing of the renewable energy for Feldheim came from a pooled effort by the local energy consumers, the municipality, the local utility and additional support by regional government and EU funds. The effort has paid off. The town has zero unemployment, compared to 30% unemployment in other villages in the area, with most residents working for the village’s renewable energy sector.

The community is also setting up a renewable energy information and capacity building center in a former tavern in order to meet the huge public interest and high number of visitors.