Renewable energies in conflict
Project duration: since 09/2010
Strategic UfU project
The energy transition and the implementation of renewable energies it involves are viewed very positively in Germany, with high acceptance by the general public. However, citizens’ approval declines as soon as they are directly affected by the expansion of renewable energy. Local protests and the establishment of citizen’s action groups to oppose the planned projects are not uncommon. As a result of local non-acceptance delays in the project implementation or the abandonment of the project might occur and operating companies, municipalities and approving authorities have to bear considerable additional costs. Often the NIMBY concept is used to explain local opposition. But the concept is only of limited explanatory capacity. Behind the NIMBY scenes there are other, more locally distinctive reasons for resistance.
In the project “renewable energies in conflict” we analyzed 40 conflicts concerning the generation, transmission and storage of renewable energies in detail. Internet research and content analyses are used as the basis for exploring the reasons for conflicts about energy, their development as well as attempts to solve them. Beside feared risks, communication problems and lack of local benefits feared negative impacts for the familiar environment are the most important reasons for local resistance. This result offer the chance for operating companies and approving authorities to direct escalating debates back onto a constructive track using transparent communication, compensation and participation.
Currently the project is strengthened by several local case studies on wind energy, grid extension and pumped-storage power plants.
Contact: Dr. René Zimmer
