Wind farm acceptance for sale? Evidence from the Danish wind farm co-ownership scheme

TY - JOUR

T1 - Wind farm acceptance for sale?

T2 - Evidence from the Danish wind farm co-ownership scheme

AU - Johansen, K.

AU - Emborg, Jens

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - The Danish Renewable Energy Act features several financial incentive structures with direct local-level implications. One of these is the wind farm co-ownership scheme, OPSS. In this study, we explore local perceptions of OPSS via survey-data collected during the Danish near-shore bid for tender in 2015 from almost 2000 respondents. Empirical evidence suggests that demographic facts, such as gender and age, influence the general appeal of the scheme, and as engagement in wind-projects via OPSS presupposes investment liquidity, OPSS is not equal for all. Furthermore, most potential OPSS-investors already support the planned wind farm projects, and many project opponents will not engage themselves in something they are against in principle. Finally, economic benefits potentially gained via OPSS do not appear to compensate for values feared violated by wind farms by many wind farm project stakeholders. While OPSS is a very positive policy attempt at creating local engagement via wind farm co-ownership, it is clear that the scheme alone will not adequately compensate for local wind farm related grievances. Real world facts and complications, such as demographics, preconceived project perceptions and personal values, get in the way. Implications of the study for related policies are discussed.

AB - The Danish Renewable Energy Act features several financial incentive structures with direct local-level implications. One of these is the wind farm co-ownership scheme, OPSS. In this study, we explore local perceptions of OPSS via survey-data collected during the Danish near-shore bid for tender in 2015 from almost 2000 respondents. Empirical evidence suggests that demographic facts, such as gender and age, influence the general appeal of the scheme, and as engagement in wind-projects via OPSS presupposes investment liquidity, OPSS is not equal for all. Furthermore, most potential OPSS-investors already support the planned wind farm projects, and many project opponents will not engage themselves in something they are against in principle. Finally, economic benefits potentially gained via OPSS do not appear to compensate for values feared violated by wind farms by many wind farm project stakeholders. While OPSS is a very positive policy attempt at creating local engagement via wind farm co-ownership, it is clear that the scheme alone will not adequately compensate for local wind farm related grievances. Real world facts and complications, such as demographics, preconceived project perceptions and personal values, get in the way. Implications of the study for related policies are discussed.

KW - Wind farm co-ownership

KW - Energy policy

KW - Wind farm planning

KW - Community benefits

KW - Incentive schemes

KW - Renewable energy

U2 - 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.01.038

DO - 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.01.038

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0301-4215

VL - 117

SP - 413

EP - 422

JO - Energy Policy

JF - Energy Policy

ER -