ESC Online Inspiration Series - Renewable energies and energy transition in border regions

The ESC is launching a series of informative online sessions on relevant sustainability topics affecting the cross-border region. These online inspiration sessions are free to attend and are intended for interested parties from the business world, but students, teachers and researchers are also welcome. The ESC is an initiative of Fontys Venlo. Together with various knowledge institutions, companies (associations) and governments, we promote sustainability, energy transition and the circular economy in the border region through cooperation and knowledge exchange.

The speakers are all partners of the ESC and leading experts in the field of sustainability, energy transition, renewable energy, the green building sector, green public spaces and circular production.

Name of the speaker Martin Unfried, Maastricht University
Time 14:30-16:00 (consisting of 60 min. lecture + 30 min. interactive workshop)
Course Free module /English spoken

Topic Regions and municipalities at the German-Dutch borders have ambitious plans and objectives to increase the share of renewable energies on the way to climate neutrality. However, other than regions in the middle of a country, the responsible stakeholders are faced with specific problems related to the border: the coordination of spatial planning is difficult for instance if it comes to wind parks. There are already some conflicts in border regions where citizens on one side of the border have the idea that they are not sufficiently involved. Electricity exchange across the border is also not always possible due to legal restrictions. This means, it is very difficult to solve current problems as for instance net congestion with more intense cross-border cooperation. In addition, national subsidy schemes and price mechanisms are obstacles to joined cross-border projects and citizens participation with the help of energy communities is still following national schemes. With the illustration of real cases of ambitious municipalities, the different obstacles will be discussed and possible option presented: despite the problems, what are promising strategies for cross-border renewable energy projects?