According to the energy policies of the European Union and Germany, the proportion of renewable sources for energy will be increased significantly in the coming years. The extended cultivation of energy crops can lead to conflicts, e.g. severe impacts on various ecosystem services based on groundwater, soils, biodiversity and the overall appearance of the scenery. Energy crops compete with food production, and moreover, they have various ecological, economic and social implications. There is a need for improved spatial planning instruments to regulate energy crop cultivation and to reduce the impact on ecosystems and landscapes. As economic, ecological and social aspects are involved, we see the concept of Ecosystem Services as a suitable tool to analyze the impacts of an increased growth of energy crops. This concept not only acts as a stimulus to finding appropriate solutions for enhancing sustainable land management on a regional level, but also provides a holistic view with which to address the demands for improved regulative frameworks. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.