Good practices
Good practices

Report

Energy & Space A comparative analysis of spatial requirements of different decarbonisation scenarios

Report

Topic

Spatial optimisation

Dimension

Grids & Energy Systems

To achieve decarbonisation goals set by the European Union, an increasing amount of renewable energy sources and electricity grids will be needed.

While renewables can reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, the deployment of wind, solar, electricity grids assets and other energy transition infrastructure requires a considerable amount of space.

Available space on land and at sea is finite and subject to various and conflicting uses, including urban development, agriculture, biodiversity protection and restoration, and the deployment of energy transition infrastructure.

Balancing the need for a rapid and extensive deployment of renewables, electricity grids and other infrastructure, while considering the importance of other human activities and nature protection, presents a significant challenge.

At the same time, a lack of sufficient data and information on the space required to achieve decarbonisation prevents an understanding of where energy transition infrastructure shall be located in order to aid decisions about how to optimally use available resources, reduce potential conflicts, and contribute to the system planning.

full report

To address this gap, the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) commissioned the Reiner Lemoine Institute (RLI) to develop a comprehensive analysis of spatial and water requirements to achieve the implementation of four distinct decarbonisation scenarios in Europe. This process included interactions with a broad array of stakeholders and energy experts from diverse sectors, whose input contributed to generating modelling results, which are also visualised in an online interactive tool.

This Summary Report provides an overview of the findings and implications of the analysis.

2023_Energy-and-Space_Summary-Report.pdf

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contact

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11035
Nathália joined RGI in November 2022 as Junior Manager within the communication team. Currently, she works as Manager – Communication & Energy Systems. She is responsible for communication-related tasks, while also co-leading different activities within the Grids & Energy Systems Dimension in RGI. Her main work topics are circularity and stakeholder engagement, as well as permitting and acceleration of renewables and grid infrastructure. Previously, she worked for the private sector, as well as GIZ Brazil and the European Union’s International Urban Cooperation Program in Latin America and the Caribbeans (IUC-LAC). Nathália studied at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, and the University of Pécs (PTE) in Hungary. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.

Dr. Andrzej Ceglarz

Director – Energy Systems

Dr. Andrzej Ceglarz

Director – Energy Systems

t: +49 30 233211014
Andrzej has been working at RGI since May 2017, having previously cooperated with RGI as researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Currently, he works as a Director for Energy Systems, being responsible for projects and activities under the RGI’s Technical Dimension addressing the questions how to plan, design and implement a carbon-free and optimised energy system. He holds a Master Degree in International Relations from the Wrocław University and completed his PhD at the School of Social Sciences and Technology at the Technical University of Munich.

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11035
Nathália joined RGI in November 2022 as Junior Manager within the communication team. Currently, she works as Manager – Communication & Energy Systems. She is responsible for communication-related tasks, while also co-leading different activities within the Grids & Energy Systems Dimension in RGI. Her main work topics are circularity and stakeholder engagement, as well as permitting and acceleration of renewables and grid infrastructure. Previously, she worked for the private sector, as well as GIZ Brazil and the European Union’s International Urban Cooperation Program in Latin America and the Caribbeans (IUC-LAC). Nathália studied at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, and the University of Pécs (PTE) in Hungary. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.

Dr. Andrzej Ceglarz

Director – Energy Systems

Dr. Andrzej Ceglarz

Director – Energy Systems

t: +49 30 233211014
Andrzej has been working at RGI since May 2017, having previously cooperated with RGI as researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Currently, he works as a Director for Energy Systems, being responsible for projects and activities under the RGI’s Technical Dimension addressing the questions how to plan, design and implement a carbon-free and optimised energy system. He holds a Master Degree in International Relations from the Wrocław University and completed his PhD at the School of Social Sciences and Technology at the Technical University of Munich.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU or LIFE Programme. Neither the EU nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.