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suitable benchmark to measure the achievement of equal opportunities within the energy sector. Official sta-tistics distinguish between five performance groups representing a rough categorization of the employees’ ac-tivities according to the qualification profile of workplaces. This categorization was narrowed down to the
‘highest salary group’ for a clearer visualization and focusing, and to ensure reliable data series from the Fed-eral Statistical Office. This ‘performance group 1’ includes employees in a leading position with supervisory and discretionary authority such as employed managers, provided their earnings include, at least partially, non-performance-related payments. Employees in larger management areas who perform dispatching or manage-ment tasks are included as well as employees with activities that require comprehensive business or technical expertise. In general, the specialist knowledge is acquired through university studies.
The indicator selected is defined with respect to gross yearly income of fulltime employees in the energy supply sector including special payments, according to the German Federal Statistical Office category ‘D – Energy supply’, which includes electricity, gas, heat and cold supply sector [79]. Until 2030, the target is defined to eliminate this gap. The target for 2020 is determined by interpolating the average value of the last five years (2011–2015) and the zero target for 2030. The extrapolated trend calculated for 2011–2015 shows an increase of the gap by 24 % in 2020 compared to the average value over the years 2011 to 2015. This means that the indicator is assigned with a red traffic light and measures are required to reduce the gender pay gap in the highest salary group in the energy sector.
Grid expansion is essential for the security of supply, optimal use and efficient distribution of electricity from decentralized renewable energy sources. The Federal Network Agency plays a key role as a state authority in the field of electricity grid and is responsible in particular for the planning and approval of ultra-high voltage power lines. In all planning levels, the public, e.g. citizens, initiatives and interest groups, is involved in ac-cordance with legal requirements by the relevant authorities. However, not all planning processes fulfill the qualitative standards for participation. Besides, many people believe that the existing degree of public partici-pation in the planning processes for grid extension is neither appropriate nor sufficient. Against this back-ground, the indicator ‘Share of regulatory tools in the planning of power transmission grids which fulfill regu-latory requirements’ (see Factsheet No. 33) was defined. The indicator addresses the sustainability rule
‘Participation in societal making processes’ and refers to the involvement of the public into decision-making to improve the transparency and quality of decision-decision-making processes and to generate more legitima-tion for decisions taken. Ultimately, this is expected to result in a higher acceptance or acceptability of energy infrastructure projects [80].
Energy technologies can be perceived as subjective impairment of recreational values, spiritual and sensual meanings or aesthetic contemplation potentials of nature [81]. The indicator ‘Share of tourists who perceive energy power technologies as being disruptive in the vacation region’ (see Factsheet No. 34) addresses the sensual perception of leisure travelers and tourists. It substantiates the sustainability rule ‘Conservation of the cultural function of nature’.
While there are ambitious government targets to increase the share of renewable energy, social acceptance is recognized to may be a constraining factor in achieving this target. This is particularly apparent in the case of wind energy and grid extension, which has become a subject of contested debates in Germany. The indicators
‘Acceptance of renewable energies in the neighbourhood’ (see Factsheet No. 35) and ‘Acceptance of grid ex-tension for achieving 100 % renewable energy supply’ (see Factsheet No. 36) are proposed among the different facets of acceptance to address the rule ‘Conservation of social resources’. While there are ambitious govern-ment targets to increase the share of renewable energy in Germany, it is increasingly recognized that social acceptance of renewable energy technologies may be a constraining factor in achieving this target especially
3.3 Assessment of indicators to preserve society’s options for development and action
23 due to changes in land use and landscape that are associated with these technologies. This is particularly ap-parent in the case of wind energy, which has become a subject of contested debates mainly due to visual impacts of plants on characteristic landscapes. Apparently, contradictions exist between general public support for re-newable energy innovation on the one hand, and obstruction or even resistance against the realization of spe-cific projects in the neighbourhood, on the other hand. Against this background, the indicator ‘Acceptance of renewable energies in the neighbourhood’ was chosen for the SIS. Based on different surveys in various years, the acceptance of different elements of the energy system was analysed on behalf of the German Renewable Energies Agency [82]. Data are available for Germany for the years 2010 to 2016 [83–86]. As target for 2050, a total acceptance of renewable energy in the neighbourhood was assumed. Based on a linear interpolation between 100 % in 2050 and the average value for the past 5 years (2011–2015), the targets for 2020 (72 %) and 2030 (81 %) were determined. Compared to the average value for 2012 to 2016, the extrapolated trend calculated for the past 5 years (2012–2016) shows a decrease in the acceptance of renewable energy in the neighbourhood by 7.3 % in 2020. However, the target for 2020 requires an increase of 8.7 % compared to the average value of 2012 to 2016. Consequently, the indicator is rated with a red traffic light. The indicator
‘Acceptance of grid extension for achieving 100 % renewable energy supply’ is rated with a white traffic light since the time series of data required for an assessment is not yet available.
In addition to the acceptance of renewable energy in the neighbourhood in general, data are also available for the acceptance of specific renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines, biomass plants, photovoltaic systems (solar parks), and for nuclear and coal-fired power plants. The percentages listed in Table 3.5 are based on regular surveys and represent the sum of positive answer options ‘I like that’ and ‘I like that very much’.
Looking at renewable energy technologies in more detail, biomass and wind energy plants experience the low-est level of social acceptance, whereas solar energy to produce electricity with photovoltaic panels in solar parks receive the highest level of acceptance (Table 3.5).
Table 3.5: Acceptance of renewable energy technologies in the neighbourhood (data from [83–86])
Acceptance in the neighbourhood (%)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Solar park 74 77 77 72 72 77 73
Biomass 4 36 36 39 39 39 38
Nuclear power plant 5 2 3 3 5 4 5
Coal-fired power plant 6 8 8 8 11 7 6
Wind turbines 56 60 61 59 61 59 52
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