The energy system is changing and is becoming more important in the spatial-economic development of the Netherlands. The current energy planning system is insufficiently equipped to deal with these changes. Therefore transmission and distribution system operators, provinces and municipalities have come together in the process of integraal programmeren to aid in making democratic legitimate decisions on energy infrastructure investments.
The process of integraal programmeren can play a role in mitigating uncertainties in the energy system by accumulating knowledge on developments, drawing up an energy vision and assisting in making decisions. Market parties are now minimally involved in the process, while they are essential in the realisation of sustainable developments. This dependency can lead to uncertainties in the process of integraal programmeren.
This research aims to construct the contours of design guidelines which could serve as a basis for the collaboration process for integraal programmeren to better suit the uncertainties in the process. A theoretical framework and a case study are used to analyse both theoretical and practical perspectives on integraal programmeren.
Integraal programmeren is a process mainly between provinces, municipalities and system operators of electricity, heat and hydrogen networks. The actors work together in a network of interdependencies and work together to achieve shared goals. The focus of the actors has mostly been on the uncertainties in the process itself since it is all very new. However, it is recognised that uncertainties stemming from the uncertainties with market parties can eventually have a big, unforeseen influence on the regional energy system. Therefore it is important to take them into account.
This research described a novel relationship between uncertainties and process design. Uncertainties among market parties can be dealt with in the process of integraal programmeren in two ways. 1.) By obtaining more information about it, or in the case when this information does not exist or is unavailable, 2.) by formulating a shared vision. Involving market parties, more actively than they are involved now, can help with these mechanisms. Involving new actors in the process leads to more complexity and new process rules are needed. Designing a process such as integraal programmeren is not a linear process, during the process, the design requirements can change based on new situations and ideas and thus it calls for flexibility, while still keeping its credibility.