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Explaining Factors Leading to Community Acceptance of Wind Energy. Results of an Expert Assessment

Author

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  • Elena De Luca

    (Italian National Agency for New Technology, Energy and Sustainable Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy)

  • Cecilia Nardi

    (Italian National Agency for New Technology, Energy and Sustainable Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy
    School of Economic and Business, Roma Tre University, 00145 Rome, Italy)

  • Laura Gaetana Giuffrida

    (Italian National Agency for New Technology, Energy and Sustainable Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy)

  • Michael Krug

    (Environmental Policy Research Centre, Freie Universität Berlin, D-14195 Berlin, Germany)

  • Maria Rosaria Di Nucci

    (Environmental Policy Research Centre, Freie Universität Berlin, D-14195 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

The present article deals with two key drivers of social acceptance of wind energy: procedural justice and distributional justice. It is based on a comparative expert assessment carried out in the frame of the Horizon 2020 project WinWind covering six European countries. The focus of the paper is on procedural and financial participation of citizens and local stakeholders in wind energy projects. The first part covers institutional arrangements for public engagement in two areas of the decision-making process—wind turbine zoning/siting in spatial plans and authorization procedures. Here, three levels of public involvement—information, consultation and participation—were analyzed. The second part examines active and financial participation of citizens and local stakeholders. Here, we distinguish between two different modes of governance: institutionalized forms of public governance and voluntary forms of corporate governance. The outcomes suggest that concrete paths to the social acceptance of wind energy are fostered via appropriate institutional spaces for public engagement. Furthermore, missing opportunities for active and passive financial participation can have strong negative consequences for community acceptance

Suggested Citation

  • Elena De Luca & Cecilia Nardi & Laura Gaetana Giuffrida & Michael Krug & Maria Rosaria Di Nucci, 2020. "Explaining Factors Leading to Community Acceptance of Wind Energy. Results of an Expert Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:8:p:2119-:d:349949
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    3. Côté, Elizabeth & Đukan, Mak & Pons-Seres de Brauwer, Cristian & Wüstenhagen, Rolf, 2022. "The price of actor diversity: Measuring project developers’ willingness to accept risks in renewable energy auctions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    4. Hübner, Gundula & Leschinger, Valentin & Müller, Florian J.Y. & Pohl, Johannes, 2023. "Broadening the social acceptance of wind energy – An Integrated Acceptance Model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
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    6. Lindvall, Daniel, 2023. "Why municipalities reject wind power: A study on municipal acceptance and rejection of wind power instalments in Sweden," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    7. Batara Surya & Seri Suriani & Firman Menne & Herminawaty Abubakar & Muhammad Idris & Emil Salim Rasyidi & Hasanuddin Remmang, 2021. "Community Empowerment and Utilization of Renewable Energy: Entrepreneurial Perspective for Community Resilience Based on Sustainable Management of Slum Settlements in Makassar City, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-36, March.
    8. Baxter, Jamie & Ellis, Geraint & Wilson, Sara & McAteer, Ben, 2024. "Community-based wind energy development does not work? Empirical evidence from residents in Canada and Ireland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    9. Maria Rosaria Di Nucci & Michael Krug & Lucas Schwarz & Vincenzo Gatta & Erik Laes, 2023. "Learning from Other Community Renewable Energy Projects: Transnational Transfer of Multi-Functional Energy Gardens from the Netherlands to Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-24, April.
    10. Michael Krug & Maria Rosaria Di Nucci & Matteo Caldera & Elena De Luca, 2022. "Mainstreaming Community Energy: Is the Renewable Energy Directive a Driver for Renewable Energy Communities in Germany and Italy?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-24, June.
    11. Lode, M.L. & te Boveldt, G. & Coosemans, T. & Ramirez Camargo, L., 2022. "A transition perspective on Energy Communities: A systematic literature review and research agenda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).

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