German summary

The change in the energy system goes hand in hand with the development of renewable energies and becomes visible through the expansion and extension of these technologies. Far-reaching technological, economic and social restructuring is associated with this "energy transition". A wide variety of actors are involved in the transition, having to negotiate compromises, create standards and routines and acquire new knowledge. These processes are often analysed at a general, national level. However, this perspective neglects processes at local and regional level, which can be understood as the basis of the highly diverse progress of change. This is where the REENEA project came in and analysed the social dynamics and regional differences of the energy transition, starting with the wind energy sector as an exemplary part of the energy transition. In recent years, the wind industry has increasingly developed into a global sector that is embedded in national, European and international contexts. At the same time, however, the industry is still regionally anchored: economic clusters are forming in which manufacturers, service providers, suppliers and research institutions cooperate; solutions for energy storage or sector coupling are being tested at locations with a lot of wind energy; jobs are being created and new industries or wind farms are becoming important sources of tax revenue for local authorities. However, social conflicts over the acceptance or location of wind turbines are also played out at a local level. The REENEA team's research findings emphasise the importance of social interactions, which significantly shape the course and success of regional energy transitions. In particular, (absent) actor activities that consolidate and institutionalise the transition process explain differences in the development of (regional) transitions. Effective informal and formal co-operation between committed actors has enabled some regions to develop into successful and broad-based wind energy locations. However, these successes are by no means automatically stable at regional level, but can potentially be eroded by changes in external framework conditions at any stage of development. Regional players have to deal with such changes, which can both accelerate and slow down the transition process. The importance of regional networks and institutions differs depending on the value creation position: while plant manufacturers, for example, are increasingly dependent on international markets, it is important for project developers to know local stakeholders in order to secure land locally and obtain permits. If regional decision-makers perceive the project development offices and landowners as having regional roots, this contributes significantly to the acceptance and legitimacy of wind energy expansion.