The Atlas of Regional Energy Transitions uses three exemplary regions in Germany – the Upper Black Forest (Upper Rhine), the Dortmund-Unna region (Ruhr area) and the Greifswald region (Western Pomerania) – to show how the energy transition can be shaped as a spatially, culturally and socially embedded transformation process. The publication, which was produced as part of the PlanTieFEn research project, combines technical, legal and social aspects of energy planning with regional identities, historical development paths and local visions of the future.
Central to this is the approach of a “planning turnaround”, which calls for the early and substantial involvement of the population and the systematic consideration of socio-cultural factors in planning and approval processes. The atlas combines cartographic analyses of the potential of renewable energies and planning law with qualitative findings from workshops and regional dialogs. These are supplemented by energy visions that were developed together with local stakeholders.
The results make it clear that acceptance, equity and regional value creation are crucial prerequisites for a successful energy transition. The atlas is therefore intended both as an analytical tool and as a source of inspiration for policymakers, planners and practitioners to shape regional energy transitions in a context-specific, participatory and sustainable manner.
