Public Participation and Transparency in Power Grid Planning
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Beschreibung
Electricity is everywhere in our daily lives. And although many
of us are ever-more dependent on power-intensive technolo-
gies, we often do not appreciate the value of it.
Power generation systems in Europe are undergoing funda-
mental change towards a low-carbon power system based
on renewables. As governments make the transition towards
low-carbon energy systems, we must ensure that power grids
throughout Europe keep pace with demand – as well as with
the changing nature of power generation.
In this changing environment, power supply systems must
be reliable and capable of providing the energy required for
households and industry alike. Power generation sourced
from solar and wind is increasingly being generated at a great
distance from our large consumption areas and is dependent
on weather and time of the day. We see more and more evi-
dence that a power system based on renewable sources can
provide a secure, low-carbon power supply even in a highly
industrialised Europe.
Power grids form an integral part of energy transition in Eu-
rope and have an important role to play in any future large-
scale power system for Europe. They are cost and energy
efficient compared to other infrastructure options such as
storage technology. More and smarter power grids can help
balance fluctuations in renewable energy supplies. Therefore,
the upgrade of European power grids is an important part of
restructuring our energy system.
In the context of this ongoing transition, we are facing both
technical and social challenges. Often, when large transmis-
sion lines are being planned or constructed there are protests.
But those conflicts can be alleviated if handled appropriately.
Often, the right way to address complex and emotive issues ‒
one of which is the conflict surrounding power grid planning ‒ is through early and meaningful participation by affected communities and other stakeholders.
BESTGRID, an EU-funded project, sets out to provide infor-
mation and guidance for organisations engaged in power
grid planning. BESTGRID acts as focal point for the exchange
of best-practice approaches to early and transparent stake-
holder participation in power grid planning implemented by
transmission system operators (TSOs) from Belgium, the UK,
Germany and Italy. These approaches to early participation
have been developed jointly with nature conservation and
non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Germanwatch, a German environment and development or-
ganisation, has been closely following the work of the BEST-
GRID pilot projects and has compiled its findings in this hand
-
book. This handbook highlights improvements in participation
and transparency that have been achieved by the TSOs and
provides answers to the following questions:
›Who is responsible for power grid planning, and how can I
participate in the decision-making process?
›Where do I find information on power line projects
planned in my area?
›What conflicts might arise during the different phases of
the planning process?
›What lessons can be learned from the BESTGRID pilot pro-
jec t s?
This handbook provides food for thought for those concerned
with power grid projects in their areas. It invites local stake-
holders to contribute their experience and expertise in sup-
port of energy transition and the much needed power grid
transformation. It also provides TSOs with examples of good
practice in formal and informal stakeholder engagement and
encourages the exchange of experience between them.
Autor*in
Rotraud Hänlein
Themen in »Public Participation and Transparency in Power Grid Planning«
BESTGRID power grid planning power line projects