Working hand in hand for the region
The districts have agreed on joint guidelines for the region’s continued successful development and are sending a clear signal in favour of close cooperation across district boundaries. The concept was developed by the consultancy firm Gertz Gutsche Rümenapp between January 2025 and February 2026, with broad participation from regional stakeholders in politics, administration, business, agriculture, nature conservation and civil society.
Focused use of the energy transition’s potential
The SREK outlines how the West Coast can utilise its particular strengths in renewable energy to boost value creation, innovation and employment in the region. In addition to attracting new energy-intensive and climate-neutral businesses, the focus is on issues such as the expansion of energy generation and storage, housing construction, transport development, the preservation of the cultural landscape and sustainable water management. At the same time, the concept takes into account the impact of this transition on local people and their expectations regarding the region’s future development.
The roadmap for the Energieküste
At the heart of the SREK are the shared development goals, a strategic spatial vision for the four west coast districts, and specific areas of action and projects. The concept thus provides a framework for the coming years and is intended to provide impetus for the further development of state and regional planning. “The SREK provides a sound basis for further cooperation between regional stakeholders in shaping a sustainable, innovative and economically strong Energieküste,” emphasises Thorben Schütt, District Administrator of Dithmarschen and Deputy Chair of the West Coast Regional Cooperation.
From Strategy to Implementation
The results of this large-scale, strategic analysis are already being translated into concrete projects and measures. Some of the projects included in the catalogue of measures are already underway and are due to be completed within the current RegioStrat funding phase by October 2026. These include, amongst other things, the development of a communication strategy and an investigation into the infrastructural possibilities for the roll-out of hydrogen. Further long-term projects are already in preparation. In addition, there are plans to continuously update the catalogue of measures and add new projects to it.
The Strategic Regional Development Concept consists of a main document, a volume containing the results of the regional analysis and the participatory processes, and a list of projects; it is now available online.
About the RegioStrat West Coast Energy Competence Region project
The aim of the RegioStrat West Coast Energy Competence Region project is the sustainable, integrated development of the region with a target horizon of 2040. The project involves drawing up a Strategic Regional Development Concept (SREK). In doing so, developments arising from potential for large-scale business settlements are taken into account and targeted measures are devised. The project is managed by the District of Dithmarschen.
Funding
Through the federal programme ‘RegioStrat – Strategic Regional Development’, the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB) and the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), which is part of the Ministry, provide funding to regions that are actively addressing their region-specific challenges. The RegioStrat ‘West Coast Energy Competence Region’ project is one of 13 projects nationwide to receive €450,000 in funding from the BMWSB. The partners of the West Coast Regional Cooperation and the Region Heide Development Agency are contributing their own funds to the project’s financing.
Contact and further information:
RegioStrat Project Management
West Coast Energy Competence Region
Birte Weber
Phone: +49 (0) 481 97-1454
Email: regiostrat@dithmarschen.de
West Coast Regional Cooperation
The four districts of Dithmarschen, North Frisia, Pinneberg and Steinburg, the economic development agencies of these districts (Entwicklungsgesellschaft Westholstein mbH (egw), WEP Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft des Kreises Pinneberg mbH, Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft North Frisia mbH) and the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Flensburg and Kiel joined forces in 2012 to form the ‘West Coast Regional Cooperation’. The aim of the cooperation is to strengthen the economic structure of the West Coast region in a sustainable manner. The focus is on project-based collaboration across various areas of activity, including the development of commercial land. Since 2014, the regional management team, based at Projektgesellschaft Norderelbe mbH, has been running the cooperation’s business office.
Further information on the topics and projects of the West Coast Regional Cooperation is available at www.rk-westküste.de.
The region markets itself under the umbrella brand ‘Energieküste’ (energiekueste.de).
