Abstract
The current European Union vision for a low carbon electricity system requires a large-scale expansion of overhead transmission lines to integrate renewable energy sources and ensure a secure electricity supply for the future. Recently, new installations of overhead transmission lines across Europe have been stymied by local opposition, which causes long delays in project completion and occasional cancellations. This study presents and analyzes data from an unprecedented survey on the social acceptance of transmission lines that was conducted in the EU-27. We find that auxiliary information regarding the positive effects of a grid development project can have a substantial impact in decreasing the opposition of local stakeholders. In particular, emphasizing any long-term carbon reduction potential or economic benefit of a particular project will, on average, decrease the likelihood that a local resident is strongly opposed to the project by 10-11%.
Highlights
The recent 2020 and 2050 energy initiatives set forth by the European Commission lay out an ambitious plan for the reduction of carbon emissions and increases in renewable energy generation within the European Union (EU) electricity sector
This study works towards a solution to the issue of local opposition to transmission line developments under the paradigm that while these developments may have negative welfare impacts on many locals, they bring economic and environmental benefits that may not be obvious to local stakeholders
We present and analyze data from an unprecedented survey on the social acceptance of transmission lines that was conducted in all EU-27 member states
Summary
The recent 2020 and 2050 energy initiatives set forth by the European Commission lay out an ambitious plan for the reduction of carbon emissions and increases in renewable energy generation within the European Union (EU) electricity sector. An Empirical Analysis of Local Opposition to New Transmission Lines Across the EU-27 by One major hurdle to this expansion is local opposition to new developments which causes project delays and occasionally cancellation.
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