Social Acceptance for Renewable Energy Technologies: The Role of the Energy Justice Framework

Abstract

AbstractMoving from fossil fuels to renewable energy is a key part of creating sustainable energy systems for the future. Governments worldwide are implementing policies and frameworks to facilitate this transition, albeit at different levels. The public also recognizes the importance of this shift and the need to address climate change by adopting renewable energy sources. However, despite such public acceptance, there are still local communities that resist the deployment of renewable energy technologies. As renewable energy projects become more prevalent, they are increasingly facing resistance from local communities. This challenges the earlier assumption that the construction of new renewable energy facilities would only accelerate when renewable energy costs became more competitive with fossil fuels. Surprisingly, many renewable energy projects still face resistance, even when they are cost-effective. This highlights the need for a holistic approach to policy design during the energy transition. In addition to technical and economic considerations, it is crucial to understand social acceptance initiatives for renewable energy technologies within the context of the energy justice framework. To fully comprehend the issue of social acceptance in the light of the energy justice framework, it is essential to consider all principles of energy justice simultaneously, without sacrificing one for another.