A Solarpunk Energy Landscape
Decentralizing the Energy Transition Towards Sustainable Energy Communities
A.F.P.L. van der Nat (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
E. Nagy (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
E.C. de Ruiter (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
J.M. Osusky (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
T. Boot (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Nikos Katsikis – Mentor (TU Delft - Urban Design)
R. Cardoso – Mentor (TU Delft - Spatial Planning and Strategy)
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Abstract
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.