Planning the energy transition with the landscape plan
octobre 2024
Réseau pour la transition énergétique (CLER)
The Cler network, the Collectif Paysages de l’après-pétrole and the Institut négaWatt are rolling out the ETAPE paysage tool, which helps to spatialise energy management solutions and renewable energy installations in a given area according to its specific resources. In a publication from the Agir collection, find out how to use the tool to define and implement a landscape plan for the energy transition.
The law on the acceleration of renewable energy production (2023) requires local authorities to include objectives for the integration and landscape quality of renewable energy production and transmission facilities in their territorial coherence plans. The ETAPE paysage tool is aimed at energy and landscape professionals, to help them plan a realistic and ambitious energy transition that meets energy management and renewable energy installation targets, while at the same time designing harmonious energy landscapes. It can be used as a follow-up to Destination TEPOS, once the energy targets have been quantified.
Bringing landscape and energy together
The tool allows energy and landscape to go back and forth thanks to correspondence sheets that reflect the links between the deployment of an energy sector and the landscape resources that determine its installation. Instead of producing an exhaustive diagnosis, ETAPE paysage draws on existing documents (departmental or regional landscape atlases, CAUE productions, photographic landscape observatories, etc.). A workshop is organised to cross-reference the expertise of the professional landscape architects (external viewpoint) who drafted these documents with the expertise of the participants, elected representatives and residents (familiar, ‘on-the-ground’ viewpoint).
Encouraging public participation
Drawing up a landscape plan for the energy transition is an opportunity to involve local players in the adventure: economic players and associations, local users and residents, students, schoolchildren, etc.
The challenge is to encourage real citizen involvement that goes beyond simple consultation, in order to mobilise the various players and ensure that the actions devised and decided on together are sustained over the long term. From the outset, this means initiating a process of emergence and co-construction, taking the time to listen, hearing the diversity of viewpoints in the area and building on existing initiatives. Surveying the area, organising landscape walks or cycle rides, and visits to emblematic sites or infrastructures can be organised as early as the diagnosis stage.