Skip to main content
Print this chapterPrint this chapter

Working Together for a Better World

7. Energy community examples: Elektrizitätswerke Hindelang (Germany)

As we saw earlier, there are different energy community models. Let’s take a closer look at two examples of energy communities in Europe: Elektrizitätswerke Hindelang (EWH) in Germany and Hyperion in Greece.  

Elektrizitätswerke Hindelang (Germany)

In Bad Hindelang, southern Germany, the Elektrizitätswerke Hindelang (EWH) energy community is citizen-led and driven by energy democracy principles through its cooperative model. EWH provides electricity and consulting services to approximately 5,200 residents.

EWH is one of the oldest energy communities in Europe. The cooperative's roots stretch back to 1923 when, faced with a lack of access to the national grid, Bad Hindelang residents established their own independent energy infrastructure. Driven by a shared vision of self-sufficiency and local empowerment, this endeavour culminated in the construction of a hydropower facility that has been in operation since 1926. 

Today, EWH thrives as a cooperative with 330 members, providing both essential services and embodying the principles of energy citizenship. This ethos emphasises active participation, shared ownership, and a deep connection between the community and its energy system. EWH's legacy of community-led action and democratic decision-making continues to shape its unique model, fostering a strong sense of local ownership and deep engagement among its members. EWH impact reaches far beyond the immediate membership of the energy community through, for example, supporting tourism in the village.