Maximised transparency – Innovative public participation in Germany's largest electricity grid project PDF

SuedLink (SouthLink) is the largest infrastructure project in Germany’s “Energiewende”. Initially planned as an overhead line, severe public protests led to legal changes at the end of 2015 requiring DC power lines like SuedLink to be laid underground. The new law means rethinking the planning – and a communication opportunity! Prior to the approval procedure, politicians and local citizens can view all planning data for SuedLink and provide input. The basis for this public participation is a tailor-made online participation platform plus 43 dialogue events on the ground. This is the most comprehensive participation there’s ever been in Germany!