This thesis focusses on a method for sustainable brownfield redevelopment of polluted industrial areas, using a phased approach. In a case study, the method is applied to the polluted area of the Isla Refinery site on Curaçao.

Brownfield redevelopment projects typically consist of three main activities: site assessment, site remediation and site redevelopment. In conventional remediation projects, methods like soil incineration and disposal are used, which take a relatively short amount of time to clean-up the soil and water in these areas. However, a growing demand for nature-based solutions in the urban planning field is challenging this paradigm. Phyto technologies are remediation methods that use plants to extract or stabilize pollution particles in soil and water. These less invasive remediation methods need a longer amount of time to clean-up the pollution compared to conventional methods. This changes the typical timeline of brownfield redevelopment projects drastically, meaning the remediation phase will be significantly longer.

This thesis will research how this longer remediation phase can be best approached to increase sustainability during brownfield redevelopment projects. This is done by focusing on increasing the value of people, planet and prosperity (triple bottom line concept) in the case study area. The aim of this study is to inspire decision makers to use a more sustainable approach to brownfield remediation projects.

The EU Green Deal aims to ensure a socially just energy transition, but the shift towards renewable energies often replicates the centralized, top-down approach of traditional fossil fuel systems, negatively impacting rural areas. This report reimagines this paradigm by advocating for decentralized energy communities, particularly in regions experiencing the neglect often seen in ‘shadow agglomerations.’ It argues for a shift where decentralized energy production empowers both cities and rural areas, enabling them to attain energy self-sufficiency and ownership. The research uses a multicriteria analysis to explore the Eurodelta and Zeeland regions, forming a vision that supports the strategic development of energy communities in Zeeland and Rotterdam. This approach aims to facilitate a more spatially equitable and just energy transition, enabling regions overshadowed by major urban centers to become essential in achieving sustainable energy production, thereby reshaping the energy landscape towards a more distributed and participatory model.