Lecture series: Transformation of the energy base. Battles over wind turbines - How can we move forward?

The lecture series "Transformations and the urban-rural relationship (in North Hesse)" focuses on different facets of the socio-ecological turnaround, including the region of North Hesse. Every week, two speakers from academia and practice will give lectures and discuss with each other. One of the lectures will be dedicated to reviewing the general state of knowledge on individual aspects of the transformation. The second lecture will focus on North Hesse and discuss the challenges arising from the socio-ecological transition for the region. The aim is to work out what new urban-rural conflicts are associated with the expansion of renewable energies, what challenges the North Hessian economy is facing and that the transformation processes not only have an economic side, but are also changing the North Hessian party and media landscape

Organization: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schroeder, Head of the Department of Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany - Statehood in Transition

Topic on 15.11.2022: Transformation of the energy base. Battles over wind turbines - How can things continue?
In order to achieve the goal set out in the coalition agreement of sourcing 80% of Germany's electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030, the Wind on Land Act aims to reserve two percent of the country's land area for wind energy. This is an ambitious target in view of the growing opposition in recent years to the construction of further wind turbines and the necessary infrastructure, including for power lines, both from directly affected residents and homeowners as well as from conservationists. So how can the energy transition be shaped between citizens' initiatives, NIMBY (not in my backyard) protests and companies in the renewable energy sector (SMA)? Is there an urban-rural divide in the energy sector, similar to that in agriculture, with production in rural areas and consumption in urban areas, and what does this mean for the relationship between urban and rural areas?

Speakers: Dr.-Ing. Reinhard Mackensen (Fraunhofer IEE), Mark Weinmeister (District President Kassel)