Innovative Public Participation

Innovative and transparent public participation in Germany’s largest electricity grid project, SuedLink. The process, which was co-developed with local governments and other stakeholders, included various engagement formats, such as an online platform and info forums.

Highlights:

• Online participation platform (SuedLink WebGIS)
• Joint planning with local governments – co-developed the concept for involving local communities and the public
• Engaging 435 municipalities
• Information forums in all regions that are affected by the project

 

Main information:

Long before the start of the official permitting procedure, TransnetBW and TenneT presented possible underground cable corridors in the regions that could possibly be impacted by the project. With the help of a new communications and engagement approach based on openness, transparency and active participation, local knowledge was included into the planning. The public could view all recorded data and post comments via a web-based Geographic Information System (WebGIS) – it was the first time such a special online tool was created and used in a grid project in Germany.