The sub-project analyses the potential for conflict, opportunities and conditions for success of offshore expansion in coastal regions. The planned offshore expansion represents a significant industrialisation boost for the German North Sea and its coastal regions. Its realisation requires not only a corresponding development and expansion of the necessary energy, port and transport infrastructures as well as production and maintenance operations and an adaptation of the social infrastructures.

At the same time, it also encounters an already socially structured area that is characterised by specific political, economic and civil society demands and expectations. On the one hand, offshore expansion opens up opportunities for the often structurally weak regions, but these must first be developed and utilised locally. On the other hand, the extensive effects for the regional economy and local services of general interest associated with it also harbour potential for conflict, which can strengthen opposition to offshore expansion.

The sub-project aims at early communication and participation of relevant stakeholder groups in order to clarify preferences, identify conflicts and develop solutions.

This should promote social support and acceptance in society and enable the collaborative development of innovative solutions and transformative strategies for the energy transition.

Another research objective is to identify factors that promote and hinder offshore wind energy expansion

The sub-project focusses on an economic evaluation of the planned expansion in the German Exclusive Economic Zone, taking into account various techno-economic scenarios with the aim of creating an overall model.

This model can be used to estimate how likely the expansion is under the conditions of land scarcity and plausible co-use compared to its European neighbours and what costs will result for industry and society so that this can be included in the social acceptance considerations.