Energy Landscapes
The seminar week will be dedicated to exploring the manifold facets of energy landscapes in the Rheinland between Cologne, Aachen, and Mönchengladbach. With our guides we will traverse the territory, visit mining pits, old and new forests and villages, and speak to locals, experts, activists and pioneers of energy transition.
- A Mining Landscape
Common Day 1
- Agriculture and Activism
Common Day 2
- Landscapes of Renewable Energy
Common Day 3
- Ecological and Social Heritage
Common Day 4
- Individual Field Research
Day 5
- Individual Field Research
Day 6
- Individual Field Research
Day 7
- Individual Field Research
Day 8
THE MASSIVE HAMBACH OPEN MINING PIT. THE MINING ACTIVITIES FOR BROWN COAL HAVE BEEN ONGOING SINCE 1978 AND HAVE CREATED THE LARGEST HOLE IN EUROPE, EATING UP VILLAGES, AGRICULTURAL LAND, AND FORESTS.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
BIOGAS FOR ENERGY TRANSITION? VISITING THE BIOGAS FACILITIES AT SCHEIDTWEILERHOF.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
SCHEIDTWEILERHOF IS A FARMER'S FAMILY BUSINESS WITH A DIVERSIFIED FIELD OF PRACTICE: CROP CULTIVATION, BIOGAS PRODUCTION, AND EDIBLE OIL PROCESSING.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
THE BIOGAS SUBSTRATE CONSISTS OF PLANT-BASED MATTER AND CAN BE STORED OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. THEREFORE, BIOMASS FOR BIOGAS PRODUCTION CAN BE CONSIDERED AS ENERGY STORAGE.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
THE POTATOES HAVE BEEN CULTIVATED BY THE SCHEIDTWEILERHOF AND ARE NOW STORED TO BE SOLD LATER FOR CHIPS AND FRIES PRODUCTION TO THE NETHERLANDS.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
AT THE FARM, THE FAMILY SERVED US TYPICAL RHENISH FOOD: GRATED PANCAKE WITH APPLESAUCE, SUGAR BEET SYRUP AND BROWN BREAD.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
LISTENING TO THE ACCOUNTS OF NORBERT WINZEN, INHABITANT AND ACTIVIST OF KEYENBERG, ONE OF THE VILLAGE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TORN DOWN DUE TO THE BROWN COAL MINING IN THE REGION.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
NORBERT BROUGHT US TO A HIDDEN GROVE NEARBY HIS VILLAGE, INHABITED BY ACTIVISTS WHO LIVE IN TREEHOUSES.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
MANHEIM-ALT: THIS VILLAGE WAS TO MAKE WAY FOR RWE'S PLANS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE OPENCAST LIGNITE MINE. LANDOWNERS WERE SUCCESSIVELY BOUGHT OUT OF THEIR LAND, RESIDENTS MOVED OUT, AND HOUSES WERE DEMOLISHED.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
NOW THE VILLAGE IS TO STAY BECAUSE THE MINE IS GROWING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. BUT ALMOST ALL THE RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY LEFT.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
SHOULD WE COMBINE SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION WITH AGRICULTURE TO BRING FORWARD THE ENERGY TRANSITION? WE VISITED THE SO-CALLED AGRI-PV RESEARCH FACILITY NEAR THE HAMBACH OPEN LIGNITE MINE.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
WHERE THE MINING IS ENDED, LAND IS RECULTIVATED AND RWE HAS INVESTED IN WIND ENERGY, THE LARGEST SECTOR OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN GERMANY.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
NEARBY THE HAMBACH FOREST AND THE MINING PIT, THE BUND (BUND FÜR UMWELT UND NATURSCHUTZ DEUTSCHLAND), THE GERMAN FEDERATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE CONSERVATION HAS BOUGHT A SMALL PIECE OF LAND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE LEGAL OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE MINING.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
DIRK JANSEN FROM THE BUND IN FRONT OF HIS PIECE OF LAND WITH THE YELLOW "X", THE ICON OF "ALLE DÖRFER BLEIBEN," AN ALLIANCE AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION OF VILLAGES AND AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR THE MINING.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN AACHEN AND COLOGNE WAS REDIRECTED TO MAKE PLACE FOR THE MINE. ONCE THE ASPHALT IS REMOVED, NATURE IS TAKING BACK QUICKLY.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
THE STRIP OF LAND NEXT TO THE MINE IS INACCESSIBLE TERRITORY AND FORBIDDEN THE ACCESS FOR HUMANS.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
Photograph: Dorothee Hahn.
