acceptance of wind energy plants -

2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg

Acceptance of wind energy plants -A psychological approach towards

the acceptance of wind energy plants

Jan ZoellnerDepartment of Psychology

Research Group Environmental Psychology

Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg


“Public acceptance of renewable energy systems and socioscientific questions”

Research project promoted by the Federal Ministry for

the Environment, Nature Conversation and Nuclear

Safety (BMU) concerning the social issues of power

generation by

• Wind energy utilisation (On-Shore)• PV solar energy utilisation (ground-installed

systems)

• Biomass utilisation


Research aims

• Detailed understanding of actual degrees of acceptance and their determinants

• Systematisation of relevant influence factors to the formation process of public acceptance

• Regarding possible differences between different regions in perception and evaluation

• Developing a standardised questionnaire • Outlining of recommendations of

possible conflict solution strategies


Method

• Multi-methodological approach • Different regions, case studies

• Expert interviews, process analysis

• Quantitative polls

• „Action research“


Method

• Research in literature and other media• Consideration the main arguments in

wind turbines based conflicts• Systematisation of conflict contents and

building up links to basic psychological research and theories


Main Arguments in Current Wind Debates (pros)

• Reduction of CO2 emissions• use of „clean“ energy• independence from fossil fuels and nuclear

energy• creation of new jobs• increasing export profits • becoming technological market leader in

this branch


Main Arguments in Current Wind Debates (cons)

• negative impacts on the natural scenery• potential risks for nature (e.g. for the

avifauna)• negative economical balance, electricity

would become more expensive• risks caused by less reliability for the power

grid and energy supply• negative impacts on the quality of life for

residents


Acceptance of wind energy: possible influencing variables

Behaviour(conativ)

Need for Nature

Acceptance ofwind energy

Reliability

Economic Aspects

Risk Evaluation

Interest

Impacts on the affective

system

Influence of Media

Energy Consciousne

ss

Socio-economic

data

Justice(procedural & distributive)

Visual contact

Environmental Consciousness

Landscape Evaluation(cognitive)

Perception of political measures


Conflicting interests

• Wind energy as a topic of actual socio-political relevance

• Strong promotion by Federal Government

• Public polls show a support of wind energy in principle

• On local levels citizens’ initiatives formed up

global aims

local needs

c o n f l i c t


Social Psychological Approaches

• Attitude research– Three-component models (e.g. Rosenberg &

Hovland, 1960)• Social Justice Theory

– Distributive and procedural justice (e.g. Adams, 1965; Tyler, 1980, ; Leventhal, 1980)

• Risk evaluation– Perception and disposition (e.g. Günther, 1998)

• Influence of the media– Agenda-setting theory (e.g. McCombs & Shaw,

1972)


Environmental Psychological Approaches

• Human-Environment-Interaction– Transactionalistic approach (e.g. Ittelson, 1974)

• Perception of natural scenery– Aesthetical needs (e.g. Hellbrück, 1999)

• Local Identity– Mental representations of homeland (e.g. Haubl,

1998)

• Environmental awareness– Sensibility for changes in climate (e.g. Kuckartz,

1998)


Questionnaire construction

• Based on the theoretical background• Developing several quantitative scales

for measuring relevant aspects, five-step answer structure

• Conative Items: concrete behaviour and behaviour intention

• Choice of interesting regions for contrasting scientific research concerning the wind energy utilisation

• Open questions to get qualitative data


Sample Items 1

Energy related topics are counted among the biggest problems in our society.

To guarantee energy generation in future, the use of renewable energies is mandatory. In the long run, wind energy plants are financially favourable electricity generators.

Because of wind energy, electricity will become more expensive. There are too many wind energy plants already.

Wind energy plants disfigure the landscape.


Sample Items 2

My quality of life is restricted because of wind energy plants.

I feel constricted because of the sight of wind energy plants. Local authorities conduct the planning of wind energy plants in an fair manner.

I would like to have a bigger say in the planning procedures.

I am financially involved in a wind energy plant project.

I support demonstrations against wind energy plants.

I try to persuade my friends to the benefits of wind energy.


„I support wind energy as a matter of principle“

Statement is...

..entirely correct

..partially correct

..I am undecided

..rather incorrect

..entirely incorrect

29,2%

37,1%

15,1%

9,3%

9,3%

67,3%


Results 1aCorrelation of the scales

scale acceptance

economy .71**

affective impacts

-.65**

natural scenery

.55**

reliability -.42**

**. Correlation is on the level of 0.01 (2-tailed) significant ( Pearson)

*. Correlation is on the level of 0.05 (2-tailed) significant ( Pearson)


Results 1bCorrelation of the scales

scale acceptance

risks -.36**

justice .35**

clima. awareness

.31**

envir. awareness

.16*

**. Correlation is on the level of 0.01 (2-tailed) significant ( Pearson)

*. Correlation is on the level of 0.05 (2-tailed) significant ( Pearson)


Results 2aMean differences between the counties

scale T df sig. (2-tailed)

climate awareness

-3,01 289

,00

environ. awareness

1,64 289

,10

natural scenery

4,24 289

,00

impacts affective

-1,97 289

,05


Results 2bMean differences between the counties

scale T df sig. (2-tailed)

economy 4,48 289 ,00

reliability -2,63 289 ,01

risks ,71 289 ,47

justice 1,49 289 ,13

acceptance

2,93 289 ,00



• Based on qualitative and quantitave data

• General attitude towards politics• Media reports

– On global and local level

• Low degree of information– Low degree of knowledge – Diffuse/unclear imaginations about the

topic and the involved actors, laws etc


• Connection between global and local level through corresponding actors

• Perceived justice during the implementation process (local authorities)

• Presentation of operating companies on site

• Association between the object „RES“ and politics: image, trust…

• Impact on „overall evaluation“ – support/rejection




• residents criticise that their interests are not represented by local politicians, particularly when compared to economic interests

• concerning the assumed motivation of wind energy plants operators, profit seeking and economic interests were named instead of environmental ambitions

• politicians and operators are condemned as untrustworthy and considered "a coalition of the mighty“

• More "correct" and objective information from an independent institution is requested


„Local authorithies conduct the planning of wind energy plants in a fair manner.“

05101520253035404550

entirelyincorrect

ratherincorrect

undecided partiallycorrect

entirelycorrect

%

14%


„Conflicts in the planning stage are solved to the satisfaction of all.“

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

entirelyincorrect

ratherincorrect


entirelycorrect

%

11%


„In the planning and implementation stages, all interests of citizens are taken into account.“

05101520253035404550

entirelyincorrect

ratherincorrect


entirelycorrect

13%

%

66,3%


„I would like to have a bigger say in the planning procedures.“

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

entirelyincorrect

ratherincorrect


entirelycorrect

64%%


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

entirelyincorrect

ratherincorrect


entirelycorrect

%

„I would like more information by the media“

65%


Discussion

• Importance of justice in context of wind energy in general could be shown

• Distributive as well as procedural justice are relevant parameters

• Information as a first step or “basic level” of justice and participation

• Role of broad and accurate information on local level in early stages of planning processes


Discussion

• Social processes are important factors to the formation of public acceptance

• Emphasising of regarding the social framework in which wind energy is embedded (residents want to have a say)

• Incentives or compensations (financial or concerning the landscape) might improve distributive justice

• Individuals as well as regions should benefit from wind energy

acceptance of wind energy plants -

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