Spatial energy planning in Germany: Between high ambitions and communal hesitations: Fid-Bau Portal

Spatial energy planning in Germany: Between high ambitions and communal hesitations

Mostegl, Nina M. / Pröbstl-Haider, Ulrike / Haider, Wolfgang

Highlights•Tailor-made visualizations of renewables in local landscapes in a choice experiment.•Thorough understanding of the necessity of renewables by the general public.•Supporters accept while critics reject renewable developments despite compensation.•Classes’ preferences: identified before planning process to avoid social conflict.•Increased need to shift away from theory based to customized planning processes.

AbstractThe paper presents the necessities and preconditions for an integrated energy planning process in Germany. The legal requirements and regional governmental frameworks for such a process were analyzed and implemented in a case study in Bavaria. The recommended public participation process was enhanced through a questionnaire, which included a choice experiment projecting tailor-made visualizations of renewable energy sources in the local landscape. The results of the questionnaire and the choice experiment provided in-depth insight into preferred and accepted locations for wind turbines and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, and furthermore revealed preferences regarding investment models, likely household savings and the promotion of renewable energy solutions. The paper concludes with recommendations for similar planning processes.