Fighting fruitfully? Participation and conflict in the context of electricity grid extension in Germany

The transition towards renewable energy production is widely supported by the German population. However, resistance against its tangible manifestations grows. The electricity grid expansion is a highly contested field: seen as crucial to the Energiewende's success, associated projects encounter protest and fierce opposition all over the country, irrespective of public participation allowed for at several stages of planning. Informed by theoretical elaborations on conflict and dialogue-oriented participation, we analyze a selection of 19 studies on participation and protest in the context of grid expansion. Our contribution confirms the significance of communication and public participation for dealing with conflicts and protest. •Analysis of common limitations of existing participation procedures in the context of grid expansion.•Exploration of fruitful aspects of conflict.•Dialogue-oriented participation as a means to ameliorate existing procedures.•Concise overview on legal foundations of participation in the context of grid expansion and actors involved.