Closed sessions > Renewable Energy and Landscape Quality

• Renewable Energy and  Landscape Quality

Chairs: Michael Roth, Nürtingen-Geislingen University – Germany; Sebastian  Eiter, NIBIO  - Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research  – Norway;Serge Schmitz, University  of Liege – Belgium; Marina Frolova, University  of Granada – Spain; Csaba Centeri, Szent Istvan  University  – Hungary; Matthias Buchecker, Swiss Federal  Research  Institute WSL – Switzerland; Dina Stober, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer Osijek  – Croatia; Dan Van Der Horst, University  of Edinburgh – United  Kingdom; Bohumil Frantal, Institute of Geonics ASCR – Czech Republic; Alexandra  Kruse, Institute for Research  on EuropeanAgricultural Landscapes  e.V. – France; Isidora Karan, Center  for Spatial  Research  – Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Location: Clermont-Ferrand

The COST Action TU1401 “Renewable Energy and Landscape QualitY (RELY)” investigates the inter-relationships between renewable energy production and landscape quality, and the role of public participation for the acceptance of renewable energy systems. This Action develops a better understanding of how landscape protection and management, and renewable energy deployment can be reconciled to contribute socio-environmentally to the sustainable transformation of energy systems. RELY consolidates and extends knowledge from a pan-European perspective using a modular methodological framework. The Action enhances the science base for decision-making, and develops guidelines for public participation in planning renewable energy systems. The potential of sustainable landscape development, with innovative land uses producing synergies for landscape quality and renewable energy, is revealed (http://cost-rely.eu/)

In this session, the four Working Groups of the Action will present the results of four years of collaboration of more than 160 researchers from 37 countries.

Keywords: renewable energy, landscape quality, landscape impact assessment, landscape sensitivity, sustainability

Abstract

During the four years’ lifetime of COST Action TU1401 “Renewable Energy and Landscape QualitY (RELY)” around 200 researchers from 37 countries have investigated the interrelationships between renewable energy production and landscape quality, and the role of public participation for the acceptance of renewable energy systems. The aim of the Action was to develop a better understanding of how landscape protection and management, and renewable energy deployment can be reconciled to contribute socio-environmentally to the sustainable transformation of energy systems. To consolidate and extend knowledge from a pan-European perspective a modular methodological framework was used. The Action has enhanced the science base for decision-making and developed guidelines for public participation in planning renewable energy systems. The potential of sustainable landscape development, with innovative land uses producing synergies for landscape quality and renewable energy, could be revealed.

The four Working Groups of the Action have focused on different aspects and questions of the topic and aims of the Action. During this session, the Chairs and Co-Chairs of the Working Groups will present the most important results of the work, which are also included in the final Action book “Renewable Energy and Landscape Quality” to be officially launched as part of the session.

Program

Monday, Clermont-Ferrand, 14:00-18:00 - Tuesday, Clermont-Ferrand, 10:30-12:30

Michael Roth: COST Action TU1401 Renewable Energy and Landscape Quality: an introduction / énergie renouvelable et qualité des paysages : une introduction

Sebastian Eiter and Serge Schmitz: Renewable Energy and Landscape Quality: National Overviews / énergie renouvelable et qualité des paysages : aperçus nationaux

Marina Frolova and Csaba Centeri: Effects of of hydro-, wind, solar, bio- and geothermal energies on landscape in Europe ; impact des énergies éolienne, solaire, bio et géothermiques sur le aysage en Europe

Dan van der Horst and Bohumil Frantal: Developing renewables in crowded landscapes: In search of international smart practice : développement d’énergies renouvelables dans des paysages habités : à la recherche de pratiques internationales intelligentes

Matthias Buchecker and Dina Stober: Developing a tool-box for effective renewable energy planning / développement d’une boîte à outils pour la plannification d’énergies renouvelables

Alexandra Kruse and Isidora Karan: Speaking a common language! Means to enable people to discuss on equal level / parler un langage commun! Des moyens pour aider les gens à discuter d’égal à égal

The session is to present the content and launch the book “Renewable Energy and Landscape Quality” (Roth et al. (eds.) 2018, by Jovis Publishers). It is closely related to the open session S1 with the same title, which will include further presentations on the topic by members of the COST Action and possibly other researchers.