This paper includes analyses on the current status of public participation activities in the selected European countries. The analysis provides information about the existing legal requirements, actual activities and used forms of public involvement during the need determination phase of the high voltage power grid. The paper provides answers to the following questions: Is public participation in the need determination required by the national law of the respective countries? What forms of participation do actually take place in the different phases of the need determination? Which actors can get involved? Is there a transparent documentation of the received input and its reaction in the decisions?
Need determination is the very first step of the grid extension and modification process, followed by the spatial planning and permitting. Need determination requires comprehensive analyses of the existing power grid data and possible future developments of all factors affecting the need for electricity transmission. Extensive grid and market simulations incorporating expected future developments have to be carried out in order to identify potential capacity problems and, finally identify possible transmission solutions. Since future long and medium term projections may significantly change, depending on the current developments, the assumptions and modelling has to be repeated at reasonable intervals. Need determination thus represents an iterative planning process. It is in the responsibility of Transmission System Operators and is often reviewed by National Regulators, who monitor the work of TSOs on an ongoing basis. This is due to the fact that TSOs usually represent natural monopolies and thus require controls to ensure cost efficiency and non-discriminant access to the network to all actors. The identified need for changes or extensions is usually summarized in official planning documents, which often have to be approved by the respective national authorities or governments.
Table of Contents
2 Introduction
3 Scope and limitations
4 Methodology
5 Need determination process
5.1 Phase 1 “Assumption/Scenario definition”
5.2 Phase 2 “Grid Modeling and Planing”
5.3 Phase 3 “Plan evaluation, adjustment and approval”
6 Public participation
7 Country overview
7.1 Austria
7.2 Belgium
7.3 Denmark
7.4 France
7.5 Germany
7.6 Italy
7.7 Netherlands
7.8 Norway
7.9 United Kingdom
8 Summary and conclusions
Objectives & Core Topics
The primary objective of this work is to investigate whether and to what extent early public engagement is integrated into the need determination phase of high-voltage power grid development across nine selected European countries, identifying current legal requirements and actual participation practices.
- Analysis of legal frameworks for public involvement in grid extension projects.
- Evaluation of participation forms across different stages of the need determination process.
- Comparative review of stakeholder engagement models in nine European nations.
- Transparency assessment regarding the documentation and reflection of public input.
- Identification of gaps in early public engagement and potential for future research.
Excerpt from the Book
Early involvement
The public should be engaged at a stage, when a decision has not yet been taken, so that possible changes requested by the public can be reflected without significant time and cost effort. (Cf. Rowe and Frewer 2000: p. 14; Rottmann 2013: pp. 13ff; Beinke et.al. 2012: p. 4f; Arbter 2011: p. 52f) Rowe states that many experts consider the point of first engagement as too late, when the public is supposed to choose an appropriate place of a facility, but does not have anymore the possibility to consider, whether the facility is needed at all. Thus, the public participation should be allowed at a stage when underlying assumptions and agenda are set. (Cf. Rowe and Frewer 2000: p. 14f) With regard to the need definition process this would mean that the public should get involved already at a stage, when assumptions and scenarios are defined. The later the involvement comments the more time and effort intensive becomes any consideration of the participants’ input. This in turn leads to an unwillingness or impossibility to reflect the changes by TSOs.
An early involvement can, however, make it more difficult to get people involved, as they normally tend to get interested only when more details about potential projects and areas affected become available. But at this later stage, some important decisions have already been taken. Finding appropriate approaches to overcome this phenomenon is a challenge which must be considered by the organizers. (Cf. Rottmann 2013: pp. 11ff)
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the necessity of grid expansion for European climate targets and the role of public acceptance in preventing project delays.
Scope and limitations: Defines the research objectives, focusing on legal status and participation practices in nine European countries during the need determination phase.
Methodology: Describes the two-step approach involving a literature review to create a generic process model, followed by the investigation of legal and practical country-specific data.
Need determination process: Explains the iterative planning nature of identifying grid constraints, broken down into scenario definition, grid modeling, and plan evaluation.
Public participation: Discusses the theoretical foundations, benefits, and challenges of involving the public in complex infrastructure governance.
Country overview: Provides detailed status reports on legal and practical involvement measures for Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
Summary and conclusions: Synthesizes the findings, noting that while most countries allow consultation, early proactive involvement remains rare and often inconsistent across the analyzed states.
Key Keywords
Public participation, Need determination, European grid extension, Transmission system operator, Stakeholder involvement, Strategic environmental assessment, Power grid, Renewable energy targets, Grid planning, Procedural justice, Infrastructure governance, Energy policy, Deliberation, Transparency, Scenario definition
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work examines the status and extent of public involvement in the need determination phase of electricity grid extension projects across nine European countries.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The themes include legal frameworks, stakeholder engagement, public consultation, grid planning methodologies, and the transparency of decision-making processes.
What is the main research question?
The research asks if and to what extent early public engagement is practically implemented in the need determination phases of the European high-voltage power grid.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The study employs a comparative analysis based on an extensive literature review and investigation of national regulations and practices from official TSO and regulator documentation.
What does the main body address?
It provides a structured breakdown of the need determination process, an overview of theoretical participation principles, and detailed country reports evaluating specific national practices.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include public participation, need determination, stakeholder involvement, grid planning, and transparency in infrastructure development.
Why is early involvement considered difficult to achieve?
While early involvement is recommended, it is challenging because the public often only develops interest when specific local impacts become apparent, by which time initial project decisions may have already been finalized.
How does Germany differ from other countries in the study?
Germany is highlighted for having a legal obligation for public participation across all three stages of the need determination process, which is unique among the analyzed countries.
What role do Transmission System Operators (TSOs) play in public participation?
TSOs are typically the primary organizers of participation activities in the early phases (scenario and grid modeling), whereas supervising authorities often take the lead during the final evaluation stage.
What is the overall conclusion regarding transparency?
The study concludes that while many countries provide written documentation of consultations, the mere existence of this documentation does not guarantee a truly transparent or fair reflection of public feedback.
- Quote paper
- Natalia Geng (Author), 2014, Early Public Involvement in the European Grid Extension, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/368577
