Exploring the decision-space for renewable energy generation to enhance spatial efficiency
Decentralized power generation can play a significant role in contributing to renewable energy (RE) supply. Accordingly, regions can be important players in the transformation of the energy system. However, only scarce spatial capacities are available for a sustainable RE generation. Knowledge gaps exist concerning data and methods for integrating RE assessment and environmental planning methods. This paper presents a methodology for the integrated assessment of different RE potentials and their land requirements. The potential is contrasted with the actual availability of land for RE-generation considering environmental restrictions. An application in the Hanover region demonstrates that using energy capacity maps supports using the most efficient mixture in RE generation. Generally, a combination of wind and solar energies produces the highest energy yield per ha. Furthermore, relying primarily on generalized environmental restrictions for defining exclusion areas can be only a first step: On the one hand the assessment is probably underrating the potential for environmentally sound RE generation due to the undifferentiated exclusion of large areas of a certain protective status. On the other hand, some energy sources, in particular energy crops for bioenergy generation, are malpositioned due to missing spatially explicit information about ecosystem sensitivities and a lack of regulative possibilities. Further research is needed to explore synergistic combinations of energy potentials and their environmentally sound spatial allocation in more detail. - Highlights: • We combine models of RE potentials with technical and environmental restrictions. • We explore the resulting “decision-spaces” for regional RE development. • “Decision-spaces” are small and need to be developed carefully to avoid trade-offs. • Planning needs more differentiated analyses to test RE allocation-scenarios. • We recommend detailed analyses on (cumulative) impacts of (multifunctional) RE use.
- OSTI ID:
- 22479731
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol. 52; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0195-9255
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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