The social acceptance of wind energy projects

Alessandra Motz

Chapter 3 in The Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy Projects, 2026, pp 50-76 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In the context of the energy transition, wind generation is one of the most promising technologies, growing rapidly on a global scale also thanks to its competitive costs. Despite consistent evidence of public support for wind energy, however, specific wind energy projects often meet opposition at the local level, and several countries increasingly show delays in the implementation of their wind expansion plans. Through a review of the relevant literature in social sciences, we provide an overview of the role of objective and subjective drivers of social acceptance of wind projects, such as (perceived) visual impact, (perceived) noise emissions, (perceived) impacts on the local economy, institutional and procedural factors, and attitudinal and behavioural traits characterizing the individuals and communities affected by a proposed wind project. We collect the existing evidence concerning the evolution of social acceptance of specific wind projects over time and describe the role of community engagement and institutional capital in fostering social acceptance of wind projects. We provide a comprehensive overview of the strategies available to policy makers, project developers, and local stakeholders to gather support for wind energy projects at the local level, prevent avoidable conflicts, and ultimately achieve a fast and just energy transition.

Keywords: Wind turbine; Local acceptance; Visual disamenity; Community wind energy; Institutional capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035348749
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