TRACK 09: Energy and Space as Resources / Limits for Planning Decisions

 

Co-chairs: Thomas B. Fischer, Giancarlo Cotella

With rising fossil fuel prices and growing concerns about their wider environmental and social impacts, there is great interest in sustainable energy solutions. Communities need reliable and affordable, as well as environmentally and socially sustainable energy. Whilst there are many ways for reducing the need for energy, demand is unlikely to reduce dramatically in the near future. With regards to sustainable energy supply, there are a number of renewable energy options, many of which are already implemented widely (i.e. hydro, wind and solar), whilst others are still being experimented with (e.g. tidal). However, whilst these renewable options are able to deliver comparatively clean energy, there are other problems, in particular with regards to an extensive spatial footprint with associated impacts , in a context of definite space and often fuzzy responsibility, for both, space and energy provision.

In this light, the integration of energy efficiency strategies into the planning process constitutes a challenge for policy and decision-makers active at the various territorial level. There are particular problems due to European and globally uneven geographies of energy security and energy economics. These have various negative implications on the development of policies and strategies for e.g. low carbon societies. We invite papers to this track that explore challenges and constraints, as well as solutions in support of sustainable energy solutions further.