Vision:En - Our ideas, our energy transition

Background

The expansion of renewable energies is fundamental to the implementation of the energy transition in Germany in order to achieve climate protection goals and an independent energy supply. The transformation of the energy system is still a long way off, especially when total primary energy consumption is taken into account. Overall, the majority of the population is in favor of the energy transition. However, concrete plans for new energy plants are meeting with opposition at the local level, and residents would like to see greater participation in the process.

Against this background, members of the Institute for Environmental Planning (IUP) at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) developed a dialogue concept for interactive citizen participation called “Vision:En 2040". The research work was funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Protection and as part of an EU project. “Vision:En 2040” is based on various models for determining the human and nature-friendly potential for renewable energies in the area (EE100, INSIDE, H2 Wegweiser) and a comprehensive geodata set. The system calculates an energy generation target for each municipality (local responsibility for the energy transition) and provides information on the framework conditions for local decision-making, such as legal restrictions on renewable energy plants.  

On this basis, IP SYSCON GmbH developed a digital interface and interactive functions for users. The digital dialogue tool was tested in various municipalities in Lower Saxony in cooperation with the Climate Protection Agency Region Hannover, its effectiveness was evaluated, and the tool was further optimized.

In all applications to date, the dialogue tool has strengthened support for renewable energies locally. Citizens exchange ideas in dialogue events about their expansion visions for achieving an energy target calculated for each municipality and design their energy landscape on the interactive interface. Social learning processes take place at the dialogue events, and information and knowledge are passed on, so that “Vision:En 2040” makes an essential contribution to increasing acceptance of the expansion of renewable energies at the local level.

A manual supports stakeholders (e.g., regional energy agencies, municipalities) and enables them to independently conduct dialogue events in their regions and spread “Vision:En 2040.”

Current functions and use

Vision:En has been in testing for three years and is largely mature in its basic functions. Additions are to be made in an upcoming project phase in 2025/26. Vision:En is fully implemented and usable in Lower Saxony. All necessary geodata has been implemented and can be used for the following queries and assessments:

• Assessment of the human and nature-compatible solar and wind potential, 
• Effects on natural climate protection, and 
• Assessment of water availability for H2 production.  

If you are interested in using Vision:En for citizen participation at the regional or local level, users from Lower Saxony can contact the Lower Saxony Climate and Energy Agency (KEAN). The IP-Syscon office is also available to release the tool. If you are interested in using the tool in other federal states, please contact IP Syscon. A licence fee is payable for use of the tool. Missing data must be provided by the user (e.g., for open space solar potential, etc.). IP SYSCON can integrate this into the web-based system.

Storymap of Vision:En2040

The Vision:En manual can be accessed here.