19/09/2025
High time we collaborate in this country. Going Solo would not solve our burdens. Not at all.
๐ The worldโs smartest village is in Germany: Etteln.
Here, community spirit, digital tools, and sustainability come together:
๐น Sustainable Mobility:
โ A village app organizes a digital ride-sharing bank. When the bus isnโt running, residents connect and share rides. Every second resident uses this function.
โ On top of that, the community has access to a free electric car, which can be booked online with just a few clicks.
๐น Energy & Costs:
โ Etteln generates 34 times more electricity than it consumes, entirely from biogas, solar, and wind.
โ A large battery storage system ensures a stable supply.
โ Because of this self-produced renewable energy, households pay about one-third less for electricity compared to the German average.
๐น Smart Infrastructure:
โ Etteln runs a digital twin that displays weather data and monitors water levels in local streams โ vital for flood protection.
โ The system also tracks textile recycling containers to prevent overflow and waste.
โ The villageโs digital platform is hosted directly inside a wind turbine data center โ powered right where the energy is produced.
๐น Community First:
โ All of this is possible because the villagers themselves drove forward fiber-optic expansion and modernization โ on a voluntary basis. This strong sense of community is the foundation of Ettelnโs success.
โจ Etteln proves how rural communities can become global leaders in digital innovation, sustainability, and quality of life โ a true model for the future.
Source:
Deutsche Welle (2023). Etteln โ The Smart Village of the Future [YouTube video]. DW.