German-French exchange in Paris on the energy transition as an opportunity for rural development

On 19 November 2025, the conference on the overarching theme “Agri-photovoltaics in Germany and France: Regulatory and Economic Developments”, organized by the Franco-German Office for the Energy Transition (DFBEW), took place in Paris. The Office had invited more than 100 experts from France and Germany to the Ministry of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty (MEFSIN).

The expansion of renewable energy takes place almost exclusively in rural areas. How can it be ensured that this results in higher regional value creation and increased municipal tax revenues? This question was addressed in the conference’s closing panel, in which Dominik Frankenberg from the Thünen Institute of Rural Economics participated. He emphasized the development prospects for structurally weak regions arising from the expansion of renewable energy, the opportunities and challenges of municipal revenue-sharing, existing monetary and non-monetary investment barriers and regulatory hurdles, and derived policy-relevant recommendations for action.

His conclusion: granting municipalities greater discretionary powers at the local level could make an important contribution to increasing public acceptance and achieving expansion targets. After all, municipalities are key actors in planning, permitting, and land management, and they serve as the first point of contact for citizens and businesses in the implementation of the energy transition. Therefore, a high pace of expansion requires capable local administrations. Networks such as the DFBEW, along with advisory services and best-practice examples, could play an important role—particularly for smaller municipalities and landowners—in supporting knowledge transfer and helping them navigate different investment options.

The Franco-German Office for the Energy Transition (DFBEW) was founded in 2006 by the German and French governments. As an information and networking platform, its mission is to build bridges between all stakeholders of the energy transition in both countries. With offices in Paris and Berlin, located directly within the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty (MEFSIN) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), respectively, it maintains close exchange with policymakers.

Further information:
https://energie-fr-de.eu/de/veranstaltungen/leser/konferenz-zur-agri-photovoltaik-in-deutschland-und-frankreich.html

Contact: Dr. Dominik Frankenberg