University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Carina Pölzl
(2022):
Paving the way for community acceptance of wind energy projects: A case study exploring opportunities of public participation.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Sicherheits- und Risikowissenschaften,
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 93.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- Decarbonising the energy system is crucial to limit global warming and to deter the worst effects of climate change. Renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines play an important role in the energy transition and achieving climate neutrality. However, wind turbines are often sited in close vicinity to settlement areas which can cause local opposition. The social acceptance framework is frequently used to analyse different acceptance patterns of a renewable energy technology. Research on social acceptance of wind energy suggests that citizens are more likely to accept a wind park when they have the possibility to participate in its planning process. Drawing on notions of public participation and energy democracy, this study analysed the planning process of a wind park project sited in Lower Austria from an ex-post perspective. This study conducted qualitative social research to understand the extent to which normative public participation criteria were considered in the planning process of the wind park. The perceptions on the planning process of three different stakeholder groups, namely those of the operating company, local politicians, and citizens were explored by means of semi-structured guided interviews. The key research findings were that citizen’s lack of control over wind turbine siting decisions led to dissatisfaction and opposition to the wind park and that participation was only interpreted as an act of providing or receiving information about decisions already taken. Such level of citizen participation is neither sufficient from an energy democracy perspective nor does it foster community acceptance. To legitimise wind turbine siting decisions, the study suggests collaboratively developing regional climate and energy plans to ensure all citizens have a say in decision-making.
- Beurteilende*r: Liebert Wolfgang
- 1.Mitwirkender: Scherhaufer Patrick