The Gloden family winery is located in the traditional wine village of Schengen and has been in operation since the 18th century. Today, Nicolas Gloden runs the business. Along the Moselle, the family cultivates the entire range of classic Luxembourg grape varieties – from Elbling and Rivaner to Pinot Noir.
Idea
An unconventional model of cooperation : how solar energy brings businesses together
Pioneering Luxembourg’s energy transition, winegrower Nicolas Gloden took the bold step of creating his own energy community.
By installing several photovoltaic systems and founding a non-profit organisation (ASBL), he is creating a sustainable network. This enables the direct exchange of electricity generated with various users located in other regions of the country, for example with the Belle Vue hotel in Vianden, which purchases surplus energy. This optimises the use of resources, reduces costs and strengthens regional value creation.
Design
Planning, partnership, and production: key steps of the project
- Research and guidance: Nicolas Gloden attended information events organised by Klima-Agence and further informed himself about their information platform and how the implementation is supposed to take place.
- Networking: partnership with Hotel Belle Vue in Vianden to sell excess electricity, enabling the distribution of resources among partner companies.
- Infrastructure: the first photovoltaic system was installed in just a single day in July 2024.
Implementation
Formalisation and regulation: bringing the community to life
- Creation of a non-profit association (ASBL) to officially establish the energy community.
- Rapid approval of the project by the ILR (Luxembourg Regulatory Institute).
- Implementation of a national sharing group, allowing direct electricity exchange between community members.
Results
An inspiring example for the energy transition
Nicolas Gloden’s journey shows that with the right support, farmers and winegrowers can play an active role in the energy transition. Every kilowatt-hour produced locally makes a meaningful contribution to Luxembourg’s energy future.
