Medial construction of energy landscapes in Germany

This paper reviews the German print media discussion of the relationship between "energy" and "landscape appearance" in general and"energy-landscapes" in particular, after the revision of German energy policy in 2011. When the landscape appearance is referred to within the scope of energy topics (without a firm conceptual link to an "energy landscape"), the debate tends to be dominated by statements proclaiming the destruction of landscape, primarily by wind turbines and wind parks. In the case of concrete energy landscapes referring to geographical units, these are frequently trade marks, in other words, proper nouns used for the purpose of establishing an image. It has become apparent that the term "energy landscape" is used, above all, as a metaphor for a complex organisational-technical-legal structure and for the transformation thereof. The overall conclusion is that the term "energy landscape" as a metaphor is more likely to be linked to the meaning of opportunity rather than threat, while in terms of defining a location within the landscape for new energy production plants, the notion of a threat clearly outweighs that of an opportunity. - Highlights: • Print media analysis of the effects of energy production upon landscape in Germany. • In many cases concrete landscapes are seen as negatively affected by wind turbines. • Geographic energy landscapes as "trade marks" are presented as exemplary. • Term "energy landscape" is mostly used metaphorically for a complex structure.