MSc thesis defence Sophie Jahns: The role of technological change in public discourses in Bavarian grid expansion conflict

Supervisors: Dr Nicolas Jager
Examinor: Prof. Dr Robbert Biesbroek
Date: 7 August 2025
Time: 09-10.00 hours
Online: MS Teams meeting link

Public resistance to infrastructure expansion hinders the success of the German energy transition, especially for High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission. This thesis examines how actors frame HVDC grid expansion in the conflict-laden case of Bavaria and to what extent technological change to underground cables influenced the regional discourse. Building on technology-policy-framing feedback loops in policy conflicts, I explore how changes in novel technologies affect actors’ framing choices by altering material realities and public perceptions. I applied a mixed-methods framing analysis on 650 documents from six stakeholder groups within Bavaria’s HVDC discourse from 2010 to 2025, combining topic modelling and sentiment analysis with qualitative frame validation. Findings show the presence of 14 frames with a centralisation of the discourse on broader energy policy visions. Furthermore, the discourse is predominantly shaped by neutral and negative sentiments, with particularly citizen initiatives and media spreading emotionally charged and adverse information. Following the change to underground cables, HVDC opposition persisted, and frames adapted to the new conflict dynamics. As concerns over local harm and financial burdens intensified, participatory and environmental considerations became less important. Thus, findings confirm the feedback loop between technology, policy and frames, also highlighting that policy conflicts based on diverging socio-political visions cannot be resolved solely by technological solutions. To support infrastructure implementation, decision-makers could address concerns about fairness and transparency. It is also crucial to increase participation of HVDC-supporting voices in the discourse to counteract dominant negative frames, enhance public understanding of the relatively novel technology and reduce risk perceptions.