Call for Papers: Changing the Energy System to Renewable Energy Self-Sufficiency (RESS) – An inter- and transdisciplinary approach
International Conference, September 15th-16th 2011, Freiburg
The transformation of the present energy system to a sustainable energy system is discussed worldwide. Self-sufficiency attained with the help of electricity, heat, and fuel from renewable energy in combination with energy saving behaviors is seen as the one way to establish a sustainable energy system. Therefore, in order for the implementation of renewable energy self-sufficiency (RESS) to be successful, numerous ecological, economic, technical, and social factors have to be taken into account, making an interdisciplinary analysis indispensable. Moreover the integration of local and practical knowledge is essential in many cases (transdisciplinary approaches). However, what is lacking the most is a coherent approach to the topics from different fields.
On these grounds the conference aims to attract scientists (PhD students, post-docs, senior researchers) from a wide variety of disciplines who share an interest in studying the change of the energy system to a system based on renewable energies.
We welcome papers and posters addressing the following five session topics:
Session I - Actors, Networks and Institutions: The role of actors, networks and institutions in the process of change towards renewable energy self-sufficiency
Session II - Economic Impacts of Renewable Energies: The economic impacts of renewable energies while taking social and ecological aspects into account
Session III - Land Use Systems: Renewable energy self-sufficiency and integrated, sustainable land use systems
Session IV - Protest, Support and Financial Participation: Protest, support and financial participation - the different roles of citizens in the change to RESS
Session V - Reduction of Energy Demand: Social prerequisites for the promotion of energy savings in order to reach RESS
The results and problem areas brought forth in the sessions will be further examined in additional Integrating Sessions with the objective to advance a coherent approach to the issues surrounding RESS.
All participants who do not hand-in a paper are asked to prepare a poster (DIN A 0), which will be displayed in a gallery during the two conference days.
Deadline for registration and submission of abstracts: 15th April 2011.
The RESS-Conference is hosted by the EE-Regionen (Renewable Energy Regions) project in cooperation with the Centre for Renewable Energy (ZEE, University of Freiburg), the University of Hohenheim and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (<link en _blank external-link>IÖW, Berlin). It is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany.
For further information about the conference and abstract submission, please visit the conference homepage www.ress-conference.uni-freiburg.de