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Energy Landscapes - Beyond the Operational
Name
Victor Andreas Ketil Carlsen
Education degree
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Architecture
Institute
Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape
Program
Urbanism & Societal Change
Year
2024
Introduction
As we approach decarbonization, energy transitioning becomes a cornerstone of our efforts. However, infrastructures of renewable energy, just like those of fossil fuels, exploit space as a resource. This puts increased pressure on the hinterland, which, against the backdrop of interconnected crises and land-use interests around climate change, biodiversity, and food, will also be burdened by the environmental costs of energy production. Although the hinterland has long been the productive back-of-house for the urban cores, it is set to undergo substantial transformation and disruption of existing spatial arrangements—from what was once remote and open, to increasingly closed and operational. Hence, the demand to expand renewable energy infrastructures necessitates negotiations among various land uses.
Energy Landscapes – Beyond the Operational departs from reflection on both the pressure and opportunities that energy transition brings to the rural landscape. The project proposes an alternative vision for planning and designing renewable energy parks in Denmark, specifically focusing on two of the thirty-two screened areas in the municipality of Hillerød. It challenges the predominant model of overly large and monotonous facilities that undermine sociocultural, ecological, and experiential values in rural landscapes. Instead, the project introduces a planning strategy that redistributes energy production to more suitable locations while hybridizing these spaces with landscape interests such as wetland restoration, afforestation, and agriculture. This approach explores new spatial configurations, experiences, and aesthetics of renewable energy production in coexistence with other valuable attributes of the rural landscape.
The project is made in collaboration with Karlie Tsang
Towards a Decarbonized System
In its efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the EU's Roadmap to Decarbonization, Denmark aims to transition to 100% renewable energy sources by 2050. The country has developed multiple national strategies to construct both on- and offshore infrastructure and facilities for the production and transmission of renewable energy. In line with the goal to quadruple the production of green electricity from solar and wind on land, the Climate Ministry of Denmark invited energy developers and municipalities to an open submission of potential areas for large energy parks. In October 2023, the list of 32 screened areas across the country was officially announced and scheduled to be constructed by 2030.
However, by closer examination, it reviews that many of these proposed sites are in conflict with national and local interests, thus pose the risk of wiping out other land-uses or potentials in the landscape. The project argues for the necessity of comprehensive understanding and coordination on the national level in the roll out of these schemes.
Methodology and Strategic Approach
The program for the project takes on a position that the rapid and vast rollout of solar parks will be one of the key agendas towards decarbonization. We take on the challenge to propose alternative schemes where the quantitative level of energy production is maintained, thus enriched by a hybrid approach with greater sensitivity to different landscape and spatial qualities.
Through a comprehensive mapping analysis of the site, we revealed various overlapping interests in the proposed site area, such as conflict with historical sites and natural protection zones. Then, multiple land uses are identified with a potential to be combined with energy production, for example, natural potential for carbon sequestration and increased utilization of large paved surfaces in industrial areas. The strategy suggests a series of redistribution operations on planning level, as well as design exploration of the solar energy park typology in specific hybridized settings.
Aerial - Original Scheme
Aerial - New Proposal
From Monotonous and Enclosed to Open and Diverse
The project operates firstly on a strategic scale. However, to address the conflicting land-uses in the rural landscape, we must investigate in more detail how a hybridized approach to energy parks can be employed. By reimagining the design and organization of energy parks, we aim to produce models that are not only performative in terms of energy output but also have the capacity to accommodate natural potential and respect the inherent qualities of the land. The interventions seek to shift away from a blanket of solar panels and look toward a mosaic landscape of diverse qualities through explorations of hybrid land use, new aesthetics, and spatialities.
Landscape Isometric of the diversified and open energy landscape
Solar + Wetland
This intervention aims to utilize the natural potential of wetlands for water retention and carbon sequestration, with the addition of energy production as a secondary function. To achieve this, we explored the use of hovering structures that can accommodate the installation of solar panels without disturbing the landscape. The structural design is inspired by the configuration of solar panels, resulting in a framework that incorporates supportive diagonal elements, seemingly growing out of the landscape and landing on artificially constructed vegetated islands. Additionally, the structure features multiple openings to ensure proper light intake and accessibility to the wetland for birds. This approach creates a striking juxtaposition between highly artificial, technical elements and the natural environment.
Perspective Section - 1:50
Wetland seen from underneath solar panel structure
Solar + Afforestation
This intervention explores combining solar energy production with afforestation efforts. The design aims to promote the health and functionality of both solar panels and young trees through a bio-industrial hybrid structure. It envisions a framework that support the growth of tree saplings, while allowing elevated solar panels to be fixed among the pillars. This approach imagines a dynamic relationship between the bioprocess of carbon uptake from the atmosphere through photosynthesis in the trees and the temporality of harvesting energy from the sun for green electricity. Upon maturity, the system allows for either decommissioning and redistribution of the panels, leaving a forest in site for natural and cultural interest.
Young forrest during energy production
Solar + Tower
This intervention proposes a vertical arrangement of solar panels positioned on natural highpoints, drawing inspiration from iconic landmarks and watchtower structures. It aims to enrich the spatial diversity. The structure is based on a V-shaped design for even sunlight exposure, which through iterations is fragmented to impart a sense of lightness as it emerges from the flat solar landscape. This results in a subtle addition to the skyline of turbines, enhancing both the visual aesthetics and experiential qualities of the energy landscape.
Intervention 3 - Energy + Tower
Physical Model
The Royal Danish Academy supports the Sustainable Development Goals
Since 2017 the Royal Danish Academy has worked with the Sustainable Development Goals. This is reflected in our research, our teaching and in our students’ projects. This project relates to the following UN goal(-s)
