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Dr Joshua Matanzima from The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, a Humboldt Short Term Grantee, is going to visit the department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Bayreuth in October 2024. He currently works on a project titled: "Renewable Energy Development on Post-Mined Lands in Germany: Risks and Opportunities for a Fair Just Transition". Prof. Dr. Katharina Schramm will host his stay.

This research investigates the social and environmental problems emerging from the conversion of closed mines into renewable energy hubs (such as solar parks and wind turbines). Socially, this research seeks to understand the potential impacts such transitions have on communities living nearer to targeted mines. It seeks to answer the following questions: Are local communities involved in decision-making?

What are the likely social impacts of such a transition especially for surrounding communities? What can be done to minimize social impacts? Environmentally, it seeks to answer the following questions: What are the environmental impacts associated with the conversion of closed mines into RET hubs? To what extent can environmental impacts worsen the social outcomes of such processes? To answer these questions, this research investigates the social and environmental impacts of the conversion of coal mines into RET hubs in Lusatia (eastern Germany) and Old Manheim (western Germany).

Disciplines: Mine closure, renewable energy, social impact