Impact on Landscape

Public should be engaged in consultations from the planning phase of the wind farm project. All key stakeholders should be included in the process, including minorities and the more vulnerable groups of the community .

In fact, one of the crucial environmental factors affecting wind energy social acceptance, especially at the community level, is landscape modification. Since wind energy plants require large areas of land, citizens may be highly concerned about their impacts on their familiar landscape, in particular when plants are located close to sensitive or protected areas.

At the same time, the negative attitude against the wind farm may depend not only on the location but also on some technical characteristics and design of the turbines. Reducing visual impacts (size, height, or design) of wind turbines by selecting the more appropriate technology is one of a number of measures that can be implemented to protect the local landscape and reduce adverse reactions.

Paying attention the community’s concerns is an effort that will pay off not only in terms of reduced opposition but, also in some optimization of the wind farm project, that will become more respondent to social, economic and environmental needs. See best practices

The WinWind project analysed how social acceptance can be affected by landscape modification concerns. Here below further readings:

10 Best Practice Cases dealing with landscape modification concerns
Synthesis and Comparative Analysis of Best Practice Case Studies for Promoting the Social Acceptance page 59

On social acceptance issues
Technical and socio-economic conditions pages 23-25