The winds of change: the role of community engagement and benefit-sharing in wind farm developments

Abstract

This article reviews the sustainability dilemma raised by the need for increased renewable (low-carbon) energy generation – replacing fossil-based sources – to accommodate the desired climate targets while at the same time enhancing the social acceptance by local communities. A “triple challenge” of climate change, renewable energy production, and the social license are at the center of such a dilemma. Even though a low-carbon or ultimately a net-zero emissions development pattern is hypothetically conceivable – the social acceptance of “social license to build and operate” renewable energy developments (e.g., wind parks) remains a key to successfully achieving the climate targets. The drivers of a social license to operate onshore wind farms are diverse. This paper looks at benefit sharing and meaningful community participation schemes as mechanisms to attain the social license to operate new renewable energy projects. We identified challenges that affect the efficacy of these mechanisms. In the absence of certain conditions, these mechanisms might not achieve the expected social license. The challenges can be grouped into two categories: those under the scope of the regulators or planning authorities; and those related to the developers. The need for and the advantages of community engagement and benefit-sharing initiatives to achieve the social license to operate are illustrated with examples from wind development projects (in the UK and Spain).