Church Files Lawsuit Against Monument Protection Authority Over Solar Panel Installation Dispute - Solar Panels Threaten Mountain Scenic Beauty

In a bid to promote renewable energy and combat climate change, the church administration in Bad Hindelang has taken legal action against the Free State of Bavaria. The dispute centres around the prohibition of a photovoltaic (PV) plant installation on the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist by the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of Monuments.

According to the Renewable Energy Act (§ 2 EEG 2023), the generation of renewable energy has priority over other public concerns, including monument protection, until climate neutrality is achieved. This legislation is being referenced by the church administration in their lawsuit.

The installation of PV plants on historical church buildings poses challenges due to technical questions and appearance concerns. However, advancements in technology have made it possible to install PV plants while preserving the appearance of historical buildings. Special modules, designed for such purposes, are now available.

The church administration argues that black, non-reflective solar modules on the church roof would not be noticeable at all. They believe that this installation could have generated power for 25 households.

The neo-Gothic church in Bad Hindelang, after renovation work in the fall of 2024, could have been a prime candidate for such a project. With the existing scaffolding including an elevator, it would have been very easy to install the PV plant on the church roof.

The first church in Saxony to install a solar plant on its roof was the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig, way back in the year 2000. More recently, a PV plant was installed on the roof of the monastery of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Redeemer in Würzburg, marking the first PV plant on a major church monument in Bavaria. This project was honoured by Energy State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt at the end of July.

Despite the potential benefits, opposition to the PV plant in Bad Hindelang came from the Diocese of Augsburg and the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of Monuments, citing that large-scale PV modules would significantly impair the church's appearance as it is dominant in the town.

Roman Haug, former mayor and church warden, regrets the missed opportunity to install the PV plant during renovation. The search results do not provide information about which instance initiated the court case between the church administration in Bad Hindelang and the Free State of Bavaria.

As the world moves towards renewable energy sources, such disputes are likely to become more common. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future decisions regarding the installation of PV plants on historical buildings.