Current European Union targets require a rapid scale-up in renewable and wind energy technology in the coming years. However, a history of contestation and protest surrounding wind energy has brought questions of participation and justice to the forefront of this transition. The EU Horizon project JustWind4All, with its 13 consortium partners, addresses these questions in its investigation of the wind energy landscape in Europe through seven empirical case studies. Employing a mixed method approach including document reviews, interviews, and media and policy analysis, these case studies offer key recommendations to foster wind energy through effective and just energy governance regionally. Specific attention is paid to the actor constellations involved in wind energy governance, the role of citizens, the procedures around site selection, and aspects of justice in wind energy.
This case study examines Brandenburg – a federal state known as “energy state” (Energieland) as it produces more energy than it consumes itself. It conducts a historical analysis, highlighting key governance changes that were critical for wind energy development in the period between 1990 and 2018. In the focus period between 2018 and 2023, the analysis identifies three main phases:
The case study underscores the interplay of regulations, norms, and discourses as well as the historical and cultural context of a specific region in shaping wind energy governance. It identifies the need for more inclusive participatory practices and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms to achieve a just transition. The report concludes with implications and recommendations for enhancing governance in Brandenburg and beyond, contributing to JustWind4All’s broader goal of advancing justice and effectiveness in wind energy governance across Europe.
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