In July 2021, the municipal councils, Provincial Councils and water authority boards in all energy regions adopted the outcomes of RES 1.0. It is now up to municipalities to implement these plans step by step. This begins with incorporating the RES 1.0 results into spatial and environmental policy, for example, by designating specific search areas for solar or wind energy. The next phase involves further developing the plans and making well‑substantiated choices. Decisio has developed a decision tree to help public authorities determine which method best supports transparent decision‑making for solar and wind energy.
Local interests
What interests do public authorities encounter when assessing a specific location for solar or wind energy? Residents often have preferences related to minimising disruption to their living environment. Noise from wind turbines and changes to the landscape are frequently cited reasons why residents oppose renewable energy, particularly when developments are planned close to their homes.
Diverse considerations required in the energy transition
Local interests are only one part of the picture. Many other considerations come into play. What are the ecological impacts of solar and wind energy? Are there grid connection options nearby, and is there sufficient network capacity? Is a wind turbine more suitable on agricultural land or in a recreational area? And what level of costs is acceptable? Importantly, the lowest‑cost option is not always the one that delivers the greatest societal value.
Decision tree for the energy transition: how do you clearly present choices and trade‑offs?
Decisio believes that visualising the considerations surrounding solar and wind energy supports public authorities in making and justifying their decisions. But how do you do that effectively? Decisio uses several methods. If you want insight into financial or economic effects, a business case or economic impact study may be appropriate. If you want to understand broader societal effects, a social cost‑benefit analysis (SCBA) is the right tool. Decisio offers a decision tree to help select the most suitable assessment method. Curious to learn more? You can find additional information about the decision tree here.
