Merkendorf, Bavaria, Germany

The municipality Merkendorf is located in Mittelfranken, some 50 kilometres southwest of Nuremberg. It has approximately 2,700 inhabitants, 1,700 of them living in the historic old part of the city, the rest living in surrounding localities. Since the 18th century, the locality has been well known across the borders as the “Kraut City”, due to its extensive kraut farming.

The village renewal project, started in 2002/2003, has already been completed in some of these villages. No less than 120 inhabitants in different work councils participated. Under the motto “Shaping the future with energy”, Merkendorf endeavors to become Bavaria’s most climate-conscious municipality. A few notable milestones have already been reached on the way: More than 143 photovoltaic plants, including a citizen solar plant on public roofs, a citizens free surface plant and eight bio gas plants make for almost 200% of the energy needs. Under the motto “From kraut farmer to energy producer”, farmers supply private households, public buildings, the industrial area “Energiepark” and industrial enterprises with energy, using the thermal nets connected to the bio gas plants. In three villages, almost all home owners have switched from their own heating boilers to regenerative geo-energy.

The fruitful cooperation of some energy pioneers with the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf and the University Ansbach resulted in an industrial area close to the city, with excellent traffic connections (train and road) and a number of enterprises in the solar and bio energy industry, a role model for a “cluster”. Consequently, the settlement was named „Energiepark“ (energy park). Today, 11 companies provide some 200 workplaces. It comes as no surprise then, that unemployment has been reduced markedly in Merkendorf during the past few years, female employment is higher than the Bavarian average and the overnight numbers have more than doubled. The so caused dynamics have been honoured at various times and it is envisioned that it will spill over into the regional cooperation, the “Energieregion Altmühl-Mönchswald” (“Energy Region Altmühl-Mönchswald”).

Also in the framework of regional cooperation, over 100 ha were acquired for environmental purposes in the “Neue Fränkische Seenland”. A connected surface area of 75 ha are the heart of this breeding ground for birds important for the whole of Europe. The entire project, summarized under the title “Rural development at the Altmühlsee Lake – Preservation of nature and landscape design”, has been awarded the Bavarian State Prize in 1991/1992.

A lot of voluntary work, projects like the joint orchard or the museum of craftsmanship and the continuation of the kraut-tradition in its many facets help the population to identify strongly with their hometown.

The village renewal in Merkendorf has proven to be comprehensive, well linked and impressively close to the motto of the event. The pioneer work in the area alternative energies together with the creation of sustainable economic activities and its lighthouse project “From kraut farmer to energy producer” while at the same time promoting natural habitats and environmental protection, is deemed exemplary.

Evaluated: 2010