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Copyright of Raumforschung und Raumordnung is the property of Oekom Verlag GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Raumforschung und Raumordnung is the property of Oekom Verlag GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Raumforschung und Raumordnung is the property of Oekom Verlag GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The energy transition and the expansion of renewable energies are central challenges to planning. In view of tightened climate protection targets and the associated rise in installation capacity, planning conflicts are likely to intensify further in the coming years. At the same time, democratic institutions are under increasing pressure. The expansion of wind energy must proceed swiftly while democratic participation must be ensured. Based on planning conflicts over wind turbines in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and Brandenburg, this paper addresses the extent to which research on planning conflicts can benefit from a justice perspective, both in theoretical-conceptual and empirical terms. Drawing on concepts from research on spatial justice, energy justice, and planning justice, the paper uses a three-dimensional conception of justice to identify access points for dealing constructively with conflicts. First, conflicts have to be recognized as such and their productive potential has to be acknowledged. Second, strategies have to be established that allow conflicts to be dealt with constructively. In doing so, several dimensions of justice must be taken into account: distributive justice and the question of what is to be distributed according to which criteria, recognition justice and the reflexion on difference and needs beyond hegemonic majority opinion, and finally procedural justice, which is intended to ensure that recognition and fair distribution can be implemented. In this way, a proactive attitude towards planning conflicts can make a central contribution to sustainable and democratic planning.

The urgency of the energy transition is in conflict with delaying effects and options that are not optimally used in the complex, multi-stage German planning system. This also applies to the law and procedures of spatial planning, as well as the interaction of spatial planning with construction planning and sectoral law. Here, fundamental reform options have not yet been exhausted, despite many current legislative projects. Some procedural steps and options for legislative deviations can be eliminated altogether, the interaction of planning and decision-making levels can be made more effective, and subject-related certain hierarchical levels in the planning system could be omitted on a topic-specific basis. Based on a brief analysis of the initial situation for spatial planning, this paper first provides corresponding general considerations on such far-reaching acceleration options and their consequences. This is followed by the presentation of numerous specific spatial planning-related optimisation options.

The energy transition has received increasing scientific interest over the last decade. A main focus is set on regional transformations from conventional to renewable energies. There, regions are typically defined as action spaces nested between local and national policy levels, and transition processes are analyzed in or between such regions. Adding on this, the main purpose of the paper in hand is to understand the processes that lead to the formation and change of such regions. How get energy regions constituted and transformed? Which geographical aspects are important for these processes? A qualitative case study from western Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany focusing on biogas co-fermentation explores different practices and routines of energy producers that illuminate the constitution, stabilization and transformation of “energy regions”. Problem-centered interviews are conducted with 20 plant operators to understand individual perceptions of routines and practices. The findings from these micro case studies are generalized and show the changing practices over time, their spatial connotations, and their importance for the energy transition. The paper discloses both, individual (practical knowledge and cognitive preconditions) and structural contexts (accessibility and availability of knowledge, existing networks and political frameworks) that are important for transition practices. Thereby, we show that over time the energy region changes from a subject oriented space to a regional network space bound to actors practicing in spatial proximity and building on mutual learning effects.

Until today, the academic and political debates on the German energy transition have primarily focused on policy activities and processes at either the national or local level. However, they have largely ignored how the Länder shape the federal decision-making on the allocation of greenhouse gas emissions according to their place-based economic interests. The starting point of this paper is the empirical evidence that effective national climate mitigation policies can go along with considerable and spatially unevenly distributed redistributive effects for regional energy industries, energy consumption sectors and thus public budgets of the Länder. Since the costs and benefits of climate mitigation policies are distributed unevenly, the Länder pursue place-based economic and political interests that shape their climate mitigation programs and their positions in federal decision-making. Based on an analysis of the regional economic interests and of the climate mitigation programs of the Länder, the paper uses the cases of the renewable energy policies and the European emission trading system to demonstrate how (re-)distributional conflicts in climate mitigation policies have been reconciled. The case studies show that redistributive policies could be implemented through concessions to single Länder. They also show that through distributive mechanisms, the externalization of costs to the users played a major role, and that the EU could partially dissolve blockades in decision-making. Contrary to findings in the academic debate on German federalism, federal climate mitigation policies have partially stimulated mechanisms for economic and innovation competition between the Länder. However, the findings also demonstrate that the concessions to regional economic interests have reduced the cost-efficiency and effectiveness of the German energy and climate mitigation policies.

Abstract With the phase-out of lignite, the Rhenish mining area is at the beginning of a transformation process that will take decades. Structural funds of almost 15 billion euros are to be allocated as project funding until 2038. The basis for this is the economic and structural programme and a regional consensus with representatives of the region. The aim of this paper is to investigate to what extent the funding project selection helps to establish green development paths and move closer to the ambitious goal of a sustainable model region for energy supply and production. For this purpose, the characteristics of 22 submitted projects in the “Zukunftsfeld” energy and industry are analysed with regard to a typology of green paths. With the help of nine interviews, framework conditions (design of the funding process and resource endowment of the actors) that influence green path development processes in the Rhenish Revier could be identified. Path renewal processes of the regional industry as well as path creation dynamics especially in the hydrogen sector can be found. Overall, the project selection is determined by a high proportion of knowledge institutions, whose participation is favoured by the framework conditions. The participation of small and medium sized enterprises and municipalities, on the other hand, is hampered by the framework conditions, which means that existing regional potentials are not utilized optimally and the transformation process as a whole can be compromised.

Using a planning process for the Stuttgart Neckar Valley as a case study, this paper analyzes the urban inertial forces that counteract the transformation of energy infrastructure areas in the context of the energy transition. In order to overcome these forces, a scenario-based mission statement was developed in which spatial scenarios were derived from energy scenarios and finally summarized in a concept plan for the Neckar Valley. The mission statement was developed following an analytical-deliberative and transdisciplinary approach. The approach to mission statement development presented here can respond flexibly to changing framework conditions and thus serve as a model for other cities with large-scale energy infrastructures in transition.

A successful energy turnaround – the so-called Energiewende – requires the reinforcement and expansion of the electricity grid. In late 2015, the German government approved a law prioritizing the use of underground cables over overhead lines near residential areas in order to speed up the grid expansion and to minimize local resistances. This paper deals with the perception and acceptance of concerned parties regarding an underground cable project planned in a rural area (Rheinisches Braunkohlerevier). By means of qualitative interviews the perspectives of local farmers and residents on the Energiewende, acceptance and evaluation of the grid expansion in general as well as the planned underground cable project and its ancillary facilities which are to be implemented in the living environment of the two affected parties were investigated and compared. The results show group-related similarities and differences. Overall, both groups were found to have a positive attitude towards the Energiewende and a preference for underground cables compared to overhead lines. However, criticism towards both issues was also voiced. Despite the general preference for underground cables, local residents evaluate the particular underground cable project in the investigated region rather neutral, partly indifferent, and in some aspects critical. In contrast, the attitude of local farmers is rather critical due to a multitude of perceived disadvantages, which partially lead to (active) acts of resistance that could slow down the project. It becomes obvious that regional site characteristics, spatio-temporal processes, habit-forming effects as well as experience and knowledge play a substantial role when evaluating the planned underground cables and that these aspects should be considered when planning grid infrastructure projects.

The digital revolution of the energy system promises a new sustainable energy future, but risks security and privacy. How to balance or at least compare these risks against other values like more sustainability is far from obvious and poses severe challenges for the orientation knowledge of technology assessment (TA). This paper explores the Capability Approach (CA) as a normative orientation for TA that allows addressing these challenges. We use two scenarios for the current digitalization in the energy sector as case studies.

Decentralized energy systems are increasingly seen as a key factor for a transition towards a low-carbon, renewable energy based society. Within the transition process, regional demand and supply of renewable energy carriers have to be aligned, while considering the environmental conditions of the region. This paper focuses on the energy demand from buildings, which makes up 35 % of the total energy demand. It presents an approach for aligning the regional supply potential of renewable energy carriers with the dynamics of regional energy demand from buildings. The approach consists of two components. First, a dynamic model simulates regional energy demand from buildings taking into consideration envelope renovation, legislative standards, and adoption of heating technologies. Second, the regional supply is estimated based on the technical maximum possible, taking into consideration competing uses and spatial limitations. We show a first application in the case of the energy region Weiz-Gleisdorf, Austria, which aims to achieve CO2 neutrality and energy self-sufficiency by the year 2050. Our results show that in the year 2050 (i) energy demand from buildings will decrease by 40–55 %, depending on envelope renovation rates and legislative standards; (ii) demand for the different renewable energy carriers will be determined by the choice of heating technology; (iii) the demand for wood could be met from regional forest resources, as long as there are no additional demands for other purposes; (iv) the demand for biomass for district heating would require 5–10 % of the agricultural area to be used for the production of energy plants rather than food; and (v) in contrast to other forms of energy, the demand for electricity will remain constant or increase slightly over time. This demand could only be regionally met if significant areas of façades or gardens are used for photovoltaic electricity production in addition to roofs. Overall we identified several issues related to spatial planning and a need for further research regarding the transition towards decentralized energy systems. First, if biomass for central district heating systems is to come from regional production, areas should be allocated for cultivating energy crops used specifically to produce fuel. Second, if wood is used for district heating purposes, the extent to which the import of wood from neighboring regions would be a useful ecological solution must be evaluated; this would involve extending regional energy planning beyond the typical jurisdictional boundaries while considering ecological issues.

The “Energiewende” (energy transition) is an important transformation process changing spaces both materially and symbolically. Making this change sustainable is one of the biggest challenges on the way to a post-fossil society. To meet these challenges in its areas of responsibility means for spatial planning to take into account in particular changed actor constellations, the emergence of new energy systems, energy landscapes and spatial relationships. However, both the implementation of the new planning tasks as well as the planning research on energy transition are only just at the beginning. Clearly, planning instruments will have to be adapted and developed procedurally and substantially. We propose that linking the debate on the Energiewende that takes place in spatial research and planning science to analytical aspects of sustainability-related gender research will achieve a yet untapped potential for transforming energy systems towards sustainable development. Using results from gender studies and research into the social ecology of sustainability, we define gender in four ways, as differential, as structure, as process and as epistemological category. Drawing upon these concepts we ask what “blind spots”, justice and democracy deficits as well as manorial handling with nature can be made visible. The aim of the paper is to gain transformation knowledge for an emancipatory (re-)design of energy transition in space as well as new prospects for planning science on energy transition.

The success of the German energy transition is highly depending on developments at the local level. However, these local transitions towards a sustainable energy supply do not always run smoothly. Instead, their implementation is often troubled by local conflicts over renewable energy and new grid infrastructures. The question of public acceptance is linked to more fundamental questions such as the underlying objectives of their deployment as well as who benefits from these new facilities. These issues refer to more complex debates and negotiations on the public interest and new forms of organisations for power supply. This paper presents a tool for the analysis of local energy conflicts with special consideration of a notion of public interest and new forms of organisation. The tool links different strands of debate in the social sciences—regarding conflicts, modes of organisation and public interests—and relates them to material, spatial, temporal and actor-based issues of the energy transition. The analysis tool therefore allows an integrative reflection of energy conflicts, which has never been used in his combination so far.