Public Participation and Transparency in Power Grid Planning: Recommendations from the BESTGRID Project

This handbook by Germanwatch highlights new approaches that have been tested by the partners of the European BESTGRID project. Within BESTGRID, Transmission system operators from Belgium, the UK, Italy and Germany have closely cooperated with national and regional non-governmental organisations. Germanwatch has been following the jointly developed good-practice approaches to early and transparent power grid planning and has compiled its findings in this handbook.

The handbook provides answers to the following questions:
- Who is responsible for power grid planning und how can I participate in the decision-making process?
- Where do I find information on power line projects in my area, on technology and on impacts on landscape and nature?
- What conflicts may arise during the different phases of the planning process?
- What lessons can be learned from the pilot projects?

Our recommendations are addressed to local stakeholders and invite them to contribute their experience and expertise in support of energy transition and the much needed power grid transformation. It also provides power grid operators with examples of good practice in formal and informal stakeholder engagement and encourages the exchange of experience betweeen them.