Procedural Frameworks and Public Participation in the Implementation of Renewable Energy Projects

When and why do renewable energy projects fail due to local conflicts, and what can be learned from these experiences? The SCHACH research project led by a consortium of adelphi research, Fraunhofer ISI, and RWTH Aachen University, investigates the conditions behind both failure and success in Germany's energy transition.

This working paper examines how planning and approval procedures, particularly integrated formal public participation mechanisms, shape local conflicts and influence project acceptance. Through a theoretical discussion of procedural frameworks, complemented by case studies from the municipalities of Sydower Fließ, Üchtelhausen, Puchheim, and Sinzig, the paper analyses renewable energy projects that failed or were close to failure. Procedures for wind, solar, and geothermal installations are assessed, and real-world experiences with citizen engagement are explored.

The findings aim to identify whether and how existing procedural frameworks should be adjusted to better support the successful implementation of the energy transition.