Creating space for wind energy in a polycentric governance setting

With the progression of the climate crisis, countries aim to achieve energy transitions by increasing their renewable energy shares. Onshore wind power plays a central role in facilitating this transition, especially in Germany, one of the pioneers of transitioning the electricity sector. Achieving transition targets and securing the supply are inextricably linked to the availability of land for and installation of renewable energy infrastructure. Challenges have increased to create space for wind power in Germany, i.e., allocate land for wind turbines. Bottlenecks could be attributed to mismatches in the underlying polycentric governance framework. Polycentric governance is a complex governance form with multiple yet independent decision-making centres. This article contributes to the question of how appropriate space for wind power can be identified. It analyses how governance processes evolve in a polycentric setting and with what consequences. In applying polycentricity, it assesses why it has become complex to create space for onshore wind power. Methods include a single-case study design and the polycentric lens as an analytical frame. Results demonstrate that wind power governance is a complex, multi-element endeavour with strengths and weaknesses. These can be attributed to six systemic issues in polycentric governance: structural inequities, incremental bias, high complexity, deep structural fissures, coordination failures, and lack of normative clarity. The analysis shows how polycentric governance can substantially support finding locations for wind power, yet this needs to be addressed deliberately. This covers relevant access points, e.g. from private, institutionalised or public actors and other channels of mobilisation.