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Managing spatial sustainability trade-offs: The case of wind power

Author

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  • Lehmann, Paul
  • Ammermann, Kathrin
  • Gawel, Erik
  • Geiger, Charlotte
  • Hauck, Jennifer
  • Heilmann, Jörg
  • Meier, Jan-Niklas
  • Ponitka, Jens
  • Schicketanz, Sven
  • Stemmer, Boris
  • Tafarte, Philip
  • Thrän, Daniela
  • Wolfram, Elisabeth

Abstract

The deployment of onshore wind power involves spatial sustainability trade-offs, e.g., between the minimization of energy system costs, the mitigation of impacts on humans and biodiversity, and equity concerns. We analyze challenges arising for decision-making if wind power generation capacity has to be allocated spatially in the presence of such trade-offs. The analysis is based on a game developed for and played by stakeholders in Germany. The results of the game illustrate that there is no unanimously agreed ranking of sustainability criteria among the participating stakeholders. They disagreed not only on the weights of different criteria but also their definition and measurement. Group discussions further revealed that equity concerns mattered for spatial allocation. Yet, stakeholders used quite different concepts of equity. The results support the importance of transparent, multi-level and participatory approaches to take decisions on the spatial allocation of wind power generation capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Lehmann, Paul & Ammermann, Kathrin & Gawel, Erik & Geiger, Charlotte & Hauck, Jennifer & Heilmann, Jörg & Meier, Jan-Niklas & Ponitka, Jens & Schicketanz, Sven & Stemmer, Boris & Tafarte, Philip & Thr, 2020. "Managing spatial sustainability trade-offs: The case of wind power," UFZ Discussion Papers 4/2020, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Division of Social Sciences (ÖKUS).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ufzdps:42020
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    Cited by:

    1. Kristine Grimsrud & Cathrine Hagem & Arne Lind & Henrik Lindhjem, 2020. "Efficient spatial allocation of wind power plants given environmental externalities due to turbines and grids," Discussion Papers 938, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    2. Franziska Steinberger & Tobias Minder & Evelina Trutnevyte, 2020. "Efficiency versus Equity in Spatial Siting of Electricity Generation: Citizen Preferences in a Serious Board Game in Switzerland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Deliberative methods; equity; Germany; renewable energies; spatial optimization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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