The solar rush: invisible land grabbing in East Germany

ABSTRACT

The article presents an ethnographic analysis of the planning and implementation of open-field photovoltaic (PV) plants on agricultural land in East Germany. Employing qualitative methods, the study delves into the multifaceted dynamics surrounding the expansion of Germany’s renewable energy sector, particularly in the considered 'energy state' of Brandenburg. Despite Germany’s commitment to renewable energy, the absence of a comprehensive legal framework governing conflicts over land use for solar energy installations poses significant challenges. Large-scale solar parks, designed for mass energy generation, often necessitate significant land acquisition, which sparks conflicts, particularly when the potential land serves agricultural purposes. The study underscores the shifting perception of land from socioecological wealth to a mere economic resource. The urgency of addressing ecological tipping points through energy transitions contrasts with the current scenario of unchecked investor and developer land acquisitions in pursuit of economic gains. This phenomenon, characterised as ‘invisible land-grabbing,’ has engendered a lack of trust in large-scale PV projects and potentially hampers solar PV approval processes. In conclusion, the article highlights the intricate interplay between energy transitions, land management, and socioecological well-being. It calls for a holistic approach to address the ethical, ecological, and economic implications of renewable energy expansion and land use.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar energy
• photovoltaics
• land grabbing
• green grabs
• governmentality
• East Germany

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 All names have been changed.

2 Mostly during production, depending on the energy source used here. The Energy Payback Time is about 1.3 to 2 years for modern PV modules (Fraunhofer and Wirth 2023, 53). Furthermore, some thin-film module production emits nitrogen trifluoride, which is 17,000 times more climate-wrecking than CO₂ (Fraunhofer and Wirth 2023).

3 https://correctiv.org/aktuelles/klimawandel/2021/10/08/darum-gefaehrden-solar-investoren-natur-und-landwirtschaft-in-brandenburg/ (last accessed on 30 March 2023).

4 https://www.energiemanagement-brandenburg.de/regionen.html (last accessed on 1 June 2023).

5 https://correctiv.org/aktuelles/klimawandel/2021/10/08/darum-gefaehrden-solar-investoren-natur-und-landwirtschaft-in-brandenburg/

6 See for instance https://www.milkthesun.com/files/images/PV-Projektbewertung.pdf (last accessed 12 June 2023).

7 https://energieportal-brandenburg.de/cms/inhalte/tools/solaratlas-brandenburg/freiflaechen (last accessed 12 June 2023).

8 https://www.energiemanagement-brandenburg.de/regionen.html (last accessed on 1 June 2023).

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge the financial support within the funding programme Open Access Publishing by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The research was funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) (DP180101368).