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Cumulative impacts of the expansion of renewable energies on nature and landscape

Project


Project code: ZALF-769
Contract period: 01.08.2012 - 30.09.2014
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment

The research project aims to analyse and assess the cumulative impacts of the expansion of renewable energies, the power network and storage capacities, and to formulate recommendations that optimize the development of renewable energy from the perspective of nature conservation and landscape management, and at least with the objective to contribute to a reduction of the negative effects. As a first step, a framework is developed, which can be used to analyse and assess the individual and cumulative impacts of the expansion of renewable energies, networks and storage capacities. First of all, the drivers and requirements on landscape and land use are examined. These are the basis of the typology of landscapes and the selection of case study areas. In the second phase of the project, the impacts of the expansion of renewable energies will be collected and evaluated in case study areas. This step provides for verification and further development of the framework and the development of a transferable survey and evaluation method. Throughout the project, various methods are used. On the one hand, the relevant literature and statistics are analyzed. Furthermore, the policies and their implementation are examined at the national, regional and local level. At the core of method development is the combination of classic planning, user-independent and user-dependent empirical methods. Stakeholders at different levels (eg, power plant and network operators, spatial and regional planners, land users, the affected population) and with regard to various related topics in relation to the expansion of renewable energies are included through empirical research methods. The research project provides finally a survey and evaluation framework that helps to monitor and assess the cumulative impacts of the expansion of renewable energy on nature conservation in various parts of Germany. In addition, recommendations for nature conservation and landscape management are formulated concerning the handling of the drivers and effects of these developments.

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Subjects

  • Agroecology
  • Landscape Planning
  • Agricultural Sociology
  • Renewable Resources
  • Climate Change
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Framework programme

ZALF Research Programme

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