Wind farm repowering in Abruzzo, in Italy
This case introduces the concept of repowering a wind farm, i.e., the process of replacing old and less productive turbines with new components, without changing the plant characteristics or location. The Abruzzo experience took into consideration different drivers of social acceptance, such as the environmental and visual impact reduction, the promotion of procedural justice and the creation of local added value. The reduction of environmental and visual impact was identified as the main concern. Pre-existent infrastructures were preserved and maximized to contain land use, while technical measures were taken to reduce acoustic emissions. Local added value was increased with new job creation and the restoration of the electricity grid. With reference to procedural justice, the developer and the local authorities implemented an effective participatory process to involve citizens. The community participation was highly encouraged through public meetings, from the planning stage to the implementation phase. Some proposal advanced by citizens aiming at having more appropriate technologies adopted, or at the reduction of the visual impact were included as part of the wind farm project.
Preparation of wind turbines in the Kisielice region, in Poland
The small and semi-rural community of Kisielice, in Eastern Poland, despite its small size, made huge investments for promoting the production of renewable energy as a trigger for local economic development. The success of such an initiative lies on the promotion of social acceptance: effective communication, citizens participation, and community benefits. As for communication and participation, meetings have been constantly organised at two different levels: municipality council and small rural administrative units in the province. With respect to benefits, both the municipality and the residents had some advantages (i.e., tax revenues benefits, local infrastructures improvement). The measure adopted by the Kisielice region developed through different stages: an initial amendment of the local regulation; the search for financing sources; afterwards, information and educational activities addressed to the local community; finally, the practical preparation of the planning and financing processes of the construction of the wind farm together with the implementation of the impact assessment.
Mancomunindad del Suereste Gran Canaria Wind & Water, in Spain.
The Mancomunidad de Sureste de Gran Canaria was created after a major water and energy crisis in the south-east of island of Gran Canaria.
The main objective of this initiative was to overcome the water crisis through the desalination of water. However, vast amounts of energy were required to carry out the desalination process. To source this energy, a number of large wind farms have been developed in the local area and more are in the planning stages. The initiative has drastically improved the social acceptance of wind energy in the region by adopting a multi-measure approach sensitive to different drivers: trust in key actors, citizens’ participation in planning processes and distributive justice, with the indirect financial participation of citizens. Mancomunidad de Sureste de Gran Canaria has been recently awarded by the Spanish Wind Energy Association with the Eolo Prize, for its significant positive impact on the society. This best practice is an excellent example of transversal approach pursuing the attainment of different kinds of benefits and advantages for the local communities.
Find out more
Here below further readings on the concept idea of the three best practices and some detailed analysis.
Analysis of multimeasure approach within Best Practice of Abruzzo
Synthesis and Comparative Analysis of Best Practice Case Studies for Promoting the Social Acceptance page 114-121
Analysis of multimeasure approach within Best Practice of Kisielice
Synthesis and Comparative Analysis of Best Practice Case Studies for Promoting the Social Acceptance pages 176-190
Analysis of multimeasure approach within Best Practice of Gran Canaria
Synthesis and Comparative Analysis of Best Practice Case Studies for Promoting the Social Acceptance pages 191-202