Although many Danes agree on the need for more renewable energy, local protests often arise when decisions about the placement of new wind turbines or solar parks are made.
In the Sønderborg area, such protests are welcomed and recognized as stemming from genuine concerns that go far beyond just the view. Therefore, Sønderborg Municipality has developed a model for early citizen involvement. In fact, the municipality will not take a position on an energy company’s application until the local residents have had 4-5 months to develop a common plan for the area in collaboration with the applicant and the municipality.
First, a public meeting is held for the entire local area, after which a group of local representatives volunteer and meet several times to discuss citizens’ questions, concerns, and wishes regarding the project. Following these dialogue meetings, the local community is invited to a new public meeting where the project is presented again—this time reflecting the input from the residents. This model has been applied in projects near Lavensby, Vester Sottrup, and Pøl.
In this way, each energy project is based on the unique character of the area and built on close collaboration between the local community, the energy company, and Sønderborg Municipality.
If we quadruple renewable energy, solar panels will cover only about 0.2 % of Denmark’s land area.
This corresponds to 75 % of the area currently used for golf courses.
Green energy in balance with nature and community
The approach of involving citizens in project development not only creates a community that is more positively inclined towards the plans, but also enhances the entire project. Citizens’ deep knowledge of their local area ensures that the project is adapted to the unique nature, wildlife, and population of the area.
It is important that the local community benefits from the new neighborhood, contributing both to development and added value. This could be energy renovations of the community center, new equipment for the local handball club, a new clubhouse, or support for shared spaces.
Or imagine a bike path winding through the solar panels, a new forest area, or flower meadows filled with bees and butterflies. Or what about bird perches, small ponds, and waterholes that create habitats for amphibians, birds, and insects? These are concrete examples of environmental initiatives that the people of Sønderborg have incorporated into plans for new local solar installations.
The upcoming solar panels and wind turbines will contribute both to the national goal of quadrupling onshore renewable energy by 2030 and to the Sønderborg area’s goal of CO2-neutral energy by 2029.