Implementing Germany-wide targets for a sustainable energy transition at state and regional level: an overview

Abstract

The advancing global climate crisis has brought the urgency of a sustainable energy supply into focus. Germany has set itself ambitious federal targets to drive the expansion of renewable energies forward. My research is dedicated to analyzing and discussing the implementation of these targets at various spatial planning levels in Germany.

The expansion of renewable energies is not only a technological challenge, but also requires careful coordination at the spatial planning level. Due to their often low energy density, renewable energies require a lot of space, which means that the energy transition requires a great deal of control and coordination, which spatial planning must ensure with sensible and fair spatial distribution control (Bruns et al., 2016, MKRO, 2022)

Germany has committed itself to meeting a large part of its energy needs from renewable sources and aims to be climate neutral by 2045. In my research, I am investigating how these ambitious targets have been and will be realised through cooperation between the federal, state and local governments. At the federal level, policy guidelines and support programmes are crucial for the expansion of renewable energy. My presentation will highlight the current policies and strategies aimed at promoting renewable energy sources while ensuring sustainable development. The challenges and opportunities arising from the political decisions will also be critically analysed.

Implementation at state level plays a crucial role, as different regional circumstances and needs must be taken into account. My research analyses how the federal states interpret the federal targets and which individual approaches they pursue to support the expansion of renewable energies. Best practice examples were also identified in order to highlight successful strategies.

A special focus is also placed on the municipal level, where concrete local implementation is crucial. I shed light on how cities and municipalities are adapting their spatial planning to enable the expansion of renewable energies and promote local energy transition initiatives. Citizen participation and the integration of renewable energies into urban infrastructures will also be considered.

A case in point is ground-mounted photovoltaics, which is increasingly being used as a new use for solar power generation in outdoor areas. Due to the many competing land uses and conflicts that arise there, active spatial planning control is required. The regional planning level is particularly well suited for this with its cross-sectional, supra-local approach with a still sufficiently precise territorial scale (ARL, 2022).

My presentation will conclude with an assessment of the progress made so far and a critical reflection on possible obstacles and challenges at the different spatial planning levels. Furthermore, first recommendations for future measures and a more effective cooperation between federal, state and local authorities will be presented in order to successfully realise the federal targets for the expansion of renewable energies in Germany.

This presentation provides a comprehensive insight into the spatial planning aspects of renewable energy expansion in Germany and helps to understand current developments and identify forward-looking solutions.