Mapping renewable energy futures in the Cologne planning region: Land-use constraints and landscape impacts.

Planning renewable‑energy sites means weighing three things: how much energy a region can produce, what land is available, and how to protect the environment. This project shows how to use Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to map possible wind‑turbine and solar‑panel locations in a study area modeled on the Cologne planning region. First, the method identifies exclusion zones—protected forests, water bodies, urban buffers, and transport infrastructure—so we know which land remains for green‑energy projects. Next, it evaluates landscape impacts such as visual intrusion and habitat fragmentation. For this, it applies multi‑criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). By combining spatial data sets, the project helps calculate regional

energy yields under different constraint scenarios. Students can follow this step‑by‑step approach to build spatial models that meet strong renewable‑energy targets while respecting local environmental rules and regulations. The final decision‑support model gives regional planners a practical way to see the trade‑offs between energy‑generation capacity and landscape conservation.

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