Acceptance Of Projects Research Articles

In Search of "Fertile Ground": How Territorial Characteristics Influence the Social Acceptability of Renewable Energy Projects.

Renewable energy (RE) projects are vital to achieving sustainable development in the context of the pressing challenges of climate change and the energy transition. However, despite the global consensus on their importance, RE projects often encounter significant resistance at the local level. This article investigates how territorial characteristics influence the social acceptability of RE projects and explores the concept of fertile ground as a framework for understanding the conditions that foster or hinder local support for such projects. Drawing on theories of regional path dependency and leadership agency, we identify the historical, socioeconomic, cultural and governance factors shaping local attitudes towards RE projects. By employing qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with diverse stakeholders and the analysis of press articles, we develop a nuanced approach that incorporates key territorial dynamics. Our findings reveal the critical role of historical industrial conflicts, political leadership, place attachment and perceptions of fairness in shaping local acceptability. They also highlight the influence of habituation and saturation effects, which shows that the acceptability of RE projects is not static; rather, it evolves over time in response to local conditions and stakeholder engagement. By situating the fertile ground concept within broader frameworks of social acceptability, this study provides actionable insights to policymakers and project developers seeking to align RE initiatives with local contexts and values.

Social Acceptance of Mining Exploration Projects: Case Study from an Austrian Town

Abstract Achieving social acceptance for new exploration projects in the EU has become significantly challenging in recent years. In 2020 a company started a new construction materials project in an Austrian municipality. However, after three years of development, the project failed due to substantial opposition from the local community. This contribution aims to investigate the main reasons for the project’s failure and to analyze the diverse perceptions that emerged during the discussion. To address these objectives, semi-structured interviews were conducted with citizens involved in the debate. The findings were then compared with those from related studies to identify similarities and differences. The analysis shows that transparency is the key success factor for mining projects, while dust, noise, and traffic are the most relevant disruptive factors. The interviewees acknowledged the critical role of mining in strengthening the EU’s independence and economy, while emphasizing the need to enhance public awareness regarding its significance.

Social Acceptability of Critical and Strategic Minerals (CSMs) Development: A Systematic Review with a Particular Focus on Quebec, Canada

The social acceptability (SA) of mining projects is a crucial issue for the sustainable development of territories and local communities. This article aims to identify the issues and examine the factors influencing the SA of exploration, exploitation and processing projects of critical and strategic minerals (CSMs) in Quebec. A systematic review guided by the PRISMA approach was conducted, selecting 57 relevant documents after excluding several others. The results reveal that between 2000 and 2024, the publication of studies on SA in the mining sector has increased significantly, particularly since 2013. Research is mainly concentrated in North America, with a predominance of case studies. Their critical analysis indicates that the SA of mining projects is based on various issues, including the need for greater consideration of the perspectives of local communities, as well as open and inclusive communication between all stakeholders. However, SA is affected by various factors, including demographic, economic, environmental and governance, which can have positive or negative effects depending on the context. Following this analysis, future research should explore the complex interactions between these factors, determining how some may act as mediators or moderators in various contexts through real case studies.

Socioeconomic Legitimacy of Surface Mining: Assessing the Role of Environmental Change, Trust, and Reclamation Satisfaction in Southern Appalachia of Kentucky, USA

Growing public interest in climate-friendly energy sources, combined with abandonment of mining operations in coal communities have resulted in declining social acceptance of mining. This study analyzed whether and how perceived environmental changes, trust in mining operators, and reclamation satisfaction impact the socioeconomic legitimacy of mining in rural Appalachia in Kentucky, USA. Analysis of responses from a survey of residents using structural equation modeling implied interactional and institutionalized trust to have the strongest and most direct impact in shaping socioeconomic legitimacy. While perceived environmental impact and satisfaction with reclamation, respectively, had negative and insignificant direct effects, their indirect effects were mediated through trust, underscoring the importance of trust for mine operators among mining community residents in sustaining the socioeconomic legitimacy of their businesses. While this study focused on mining, its findings offer valuable insights for promoting the social acceptance of other projects in resource extraction facing public opposition.

Construction of Evaluation Indicator System for Acceptance of Soft Science and Technology Projects in Tobacco Industry based on OKR

Soft science and technology projects are one of the basic organizational forms of scientific and technological activities, being the process of generating, accumulating, and applying new knowledge.The evaluation of science and technology project is a key stage in the process of science and technology project management. In the new development stage, it is urgent to speed up the formation of a comprehensive innovative management system. Constructing an acceptance evaluation indicator system of soft science and technology projects is an important link to deepen the management of science and technology projects. Based on the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) method and combined with the characteristics of soft science projects, the acceptance evaluation objectives such as schedule, quality, cost, and team management are proposed. The evaluation objectives are transformed into quantifiable key outcome indicators, and a system of evaluation indicators for soft science and technology project acceptance in tobacco industry is constructed. Field research is carried out in the tobacco industry, using the entropy value method to assign weights to the evaluation indicators, with a view to providing a decision-making basis for the acceptance evaluation of the scientific and technological project management departments, and accelerating the formation of new quality productivity in the tobacco industry.

Energy Transition and Democratic Challenges: The Contribution of EU Law

The legal design of future energy systems should be inserted in a far-reaching reflection on how energy is used and distributed according to the social goals defined within the framework of an institutional arrangement interacting with technological innovation. Energy law is then not to be seen as an independent branch of public law but as a particular approach in the overall legal framing of social reproduction processes. Energy democracy should be tackled according to this mindset. It had become almost a truism to think that energy transition to a post-fossil model is as such a way to enhance democracy. However, significant boost of socio-environmental conflicts related to renewable energy facilities raise doubts about an alleged necessary relation between new sources of energy, technological innovation and increasing democratization within the framework of a more or less smooth transition.The implementation of renewable energy in the context of energy transition has opened a debate about energy democracy. However, the discussion is often centred in the acceptability of renewable energy generation projects. Energy communities provide a way to develop robust democratic practices in the energy system, addressing inequalities and exclusions and promoting democracy as a fundamental social value. EU law has incorporated these entities and, thus, provide opportunities to bridge energy systems with democratic practices according with core values of the Union, although an explicit democratic principle is not to be found in EU law, which can contribute in a significant way to achieve a profound democratization of the energy systems. This contribution would be enhanced with a more explicit assumption of the democratic principle in energy related directives.

A comprehensive risk management framework for NIMBY projects: Integrating social network analysis and risk transmission chains

Urban development projects often face local opposition, known as the NIMBY (Not in my back yard) effect, affecting infrastructure implementation and urban growth. This study aims to develop a systematic risk management approach for NIMBY projects. Employing grounded theory, 29 NIMBY cases in China were analyzed, identifying 17 risk factors across six categories. Social network analysis revealed risk interactions, highlighting four factors: government decision-making risk, government credibility risk, project completion risk, and online public opinion risk. Two risk transmission chains were delineated, each consisting of 4–5 interconnected risk factors, providing insights into risk propagation mechanisms. Simulation results indicated that targeted risk mitigation strategies based on these chains affected network efficiency differently compared to random approaches. The network efficiency reduced from 16.5% to 11.2% for the first chain-based strategy and to 13.4% for the second, while random interventions showed limited impact on network efficiency. Based on these findings, a NIMBY risk management system focusing on risk nodes and incorporating risk compensation mechanisms is proposed. This system addresses proactive governance, stakeholder engagement, and risk mitigation. The research contributes to the understanding and management of NIMBY risks, providing tools for policymakers and project managers. The findings suggest that this approach may affect NIMBY conflicts and community acceptance of urban development projects, potentially influencing urban development processes.

Energy Transition and Democratic Challenges: The Contribution of EU Law

The legal design of future energy systems should be inserted in a far-reaching reflection on how energy is used and distributed according to the social goals defined within the framework of an institutional arrangement interacting with technological innovation. Energy law is then not to be seen as an independent branch of public law but as a particular approach in the overall legal framing of social reproduction processes. Energy democracy should be tackled according to this mindset. It had become almost a truism to think that energy transition to a post-fossil model is as such a way to enhance democracy. However, significant boost of socio-environmental conflicts related to renewable energy facilities raise doubts about an alleged necessary relation between new sources of energy, technological innovation and increasing democratization within the framework of a more or less smooth transition.The implementation of renewable energy in the context of energy transition has opened a debate about energy democracy. However, the discussion is often centred in the acceptability of renewable energy generation projects. Energy communities provide a way to develop robust democratic practices in the energy system, addressing inequalities and exclusions and promoting democracy as a fundamental social value. EU law has incorporated these entities and, thus, provide opportunities to bridge energy systems with democratic practices according with core values of the Union, although an explicit democratic principle is not to be found in EU law, which can contribute in a significant way to achieve a profound democratization of the energy systems. This contribution would be enhanced with a more explicit assumption of the democratic principle in energy related directives.

Crowd-counting technology within the Smart City context: understanding, trust, and acceptance.

In city centers worldwide, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bamberg's old town in Germany, alleviating pedestrian overcrowding is a pressing concern. Leveraging crowd-counting technologies with real-time data collection offers promising solutions, yet poses challenges regarding data privacy and informed consent. This preregistered study examines public response to a Smart City Bamberg project aimed at addressing pedestrian congestion through crowd-counting methods. We investigate informed consent by looking at understanding and acceptance of the project, as well as influencing factors, such as effectiveness of project explanation and trust. Through a three-stage study comprising exploratory interviews, a field study, and an online study, we reveal that the focus of project explanations significantly impacts understanding: Functional explanations, emphasizing project purpose, enhance comprehension compared to mechanistic explanations detailing project components. Additionally, project trust positively correlates with acceptance. Notably, understanding impacts acceptance through increased project trust. These findings underscore the importance of fostering understanding to garner public acceptance of crowd-counting projects. It is important, especially in the case of projects which aim to improve quality of life while also prioritizing robust data protection, that decisions regarding informed consent are grounded in comprehension rather than on preconceived biases against data sharing. Efforts should prioritize effective explanations to bolster project trust and consequently, promote acceptance.

Extent of acceptance of Government Projects for Food Security in Kabokweni Ehlanzeni District, South Africa

Food security is a major concern in different countries across the world, including South Africa. The study aimed to contextually analyse government projects in Kabokweni, Ehlanzeni district, South Africa to enhance their potential, and strengthen food security. A simple random sampling process was used to choose the 294 participants from a group of 1121 small-scale farmers. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire, which was administered to respondents by the lead researcher with the aid of trained enumerators. After giving consent, the respondents were asked the questions in one-on-one interviews while the lead researcher and enumerators noted down their responses on the questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the data using SPSS version 28 software. Descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and tables were used for analysis in the study. The type of inferential statistics used is the linear regression model. The results showed that most of the participants were female (64.29%). Youth participation was found to be 25.17% (age group of 29 to 39 years), while elderly farmers were found to be 13.95% (62 years and older). The majority (55.44%) of the small-scale farmers in the study area were schooled up to secondary level, while 12.24% had no formal education. At least 35.7% of the participants owned farmland ranging from 6 to 9 acres, with an annual income of R23 000 earned by 55.44% of the participants. Educational level (P-value=0.001), employment status (P-value=0.181), farm size (P-value=0.003), type of farm enterprise (P-value=0.001), and the level of awareness about government projects (P-value=0.001) were significant, and positively associated with the decision to accept government projects aimed at improving food security levels at the study area. However, the type of crops cultivated (P-value=0.005), and the type of livestock (P-value=0.001) were also statistically significant and influenced the acceptance of government projects for food security. In conclusion, to increase participation in government projects for food security, the monitoring and distribution approach must be improved. Moreover, the study recommends that small-scale farmers should be well informed about the benefits of participating in government projects for food security in the study area. Key words: Extent, acceptance, food security, government, projects, participation, smallholder farmers

Integration of disamenity costs and equality considerations regarding onshore wind power expansion and distribution into energy system optimization models

BackgroundSocial acceptance of energy infrastructure projects affects public support for the energy transition and is essential for the transition’s sustainability and success. Despite extensive research focusing on the social acceptance of renewable energy, and on the acceptance of onshore wind power in particular, energy system models have largely prioritized techno-economic aspects. This focus has created a gap between model results and decision-makers’ needs. In this study, we offer recommendations for integrating disamenity costs and equality considerations—two critical social aspects related to onshore wind power—into energy system optimization. To achieve this, we use a spatially distributed model from a climate-neutral Germany and explore various implementations and trade-offs of these two social aspects.ResultsWe identified effective linear formulations for both disamenity costs and equality considerations as model extensions, notably outperforming quadratic alternatives, which exhibit longer solution times (+ 50–115%). Our findings reveal that the endogenous consideration of disamenity costs in the optimization approach can significantly reduce the human population’s exposure to wind turbines, decreasing the average disamenity per turbine by 53%. Drawing on notions of welfare economics, we employ two different approaches for integrating equality into the optimization process, permitting the modulation of the degree of equality within spatial distributions in energy system models. The trade-offs of the two social aspects compared to the cost-optimal reference are moderate, resulting in a 2–3% increase in system costs.ConclusionsDisamenity costs emerge as a predominant factor in the distribution of onshore wind power in energy system optimization models. However, existing plans for onshore wind power distribution in Germany underscore equality as the driving factor. The inclusion of social aspects in energy system models facilitates the identification of socially superior wind turbine locations. Neglecting disamenity costs and equality considerations leads to an overestimation of the practical solution space for decision-makers and, consequently, the resulting energy system designs.

A Global Perspective on Renewable Energy Implementation: Commitment Requires Action

Meeting renewable energy targets is one of the most significant global challenges to achieving SDG 7—Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This study focuses on the global energy transition to understand the factors that influence success or failure in achieving targets. First, the gap between the stated targets and our predictions was calculated. Next, the roles of economic, political, and environmental variables in determining this gap were analyzed. Data were collected from 63 countries from 2000 to 2022, ensuring the global representativeness and robustness of the results. Many countries may struggle to meet their renewable energy targets. Political stability, regulatory quality, and investment freedom play a remarkable role in helping countries get closer to achieving their targets. More industrialized countries with large populations face greater challenges due to high energy intensity. This paper aims to predict the propensity of countries to meet their energy targets by integrating the forecasting and analysis of the economic, political, and geographical factors that influence a green transition. The results provide new insights into how socioeconomic and geopolitical differences influence the energy transition, offering insights for more effective policies. It is argued that accelerated administrative procedures are needed to reduce investment uncertainty and improve energy systems’ flexibility. In addition, involving local communities in the decision-making process is important to ensure the acceptance of RE projects. Finally, introducing energy markets that reflect the characteristics of renewable sources is recommended to facilitate a more rapid and sustainable transition.

Assessing good governance principles of renewable energy megaprojects

Australia has a net zero emission target by 2050. The transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources is critical to meeting this target and the construction of large-scale renewable energy projects is booming. These developments bring economic benefits, but their size means they can also have environmental and social consequences. Rural landscapes are particularly vulnerable because they are expected to be at the forefront of new large-scale renewable energy developments. Such projects are complex and, although they might be socially acceptable, need to be managed and governed well if they are to proceed smoothly. Good governance incorporates fairness, trust and transparency, aspects that foster public acceptance for renewable energy projects. While social acceptance has attracted substantial research, little is known about the public's views on the governance of renewable energy megaprojects. In Australia, a continent with abundant solar radiation and space, large projects are novel and our study aimed to assess which good governance principles the public considers to be most important if megaprojects are to be approved for construction in remote Australia. This insight can complement state and investors views on governance. We carried out an Australia-wide online survey that included a best-worst scaling (BWS) experiment and received 2223 valid responses, using an ambitious 12,000-ha solar megafarm planned for remote northern Australia as a case study. The most important governance principal for respondents was taking responsibility for environmental risk, followed by benefits such as cheap energy and jobs for the local community - governance principles referred to as responsiveness and participation. Accountability if something goes wrong was also perceived as important, but mainly by those respondents who lived in the jurisdiction that is the proposed host of the solar megafarm, and less so by people living in other places of Australia. Perhaps surprisingly, the governance principles of transparency, fairness and the rule of law were considered to be less important. Adhering to national regulations was also affected by the location of respondents, with those living closer to the proposed megafarm being least concerned about adherence.

Conceptualizing Community Engagement for Mental and Brain Health Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Case of Kilifi County, Kenya.

Community engagement (CE) has increasingly been recognized as a critical element for successful health promotion and intervention programs. However, the term CE has been used to mean different things in different settings. In this article, we explore how CE has been conceptualized in the field of mental and brain health in Kilifi County, Kenya. We used ethnographic methods encompassing focused group discussions, key informant interviews, and observations with 65 participants, purposively recruited from Kilifi County. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Our findings show that community members and stakeholders had diverse perceptions of and experiences with CE. Factors such as trust between researchers and community members, sensitization, and awareness creation were key for acceptance of research projects. Partial involvement in research, lack of access to information, poverty and socio-economic challenges, and financial expectations from researchers hindered CE and led to resistance to participation in research projects. For effective CE, there is a need to work closely with community gatekeepers, create awareness of the research projects, use local languages, and ensure continuous engagement that promotes equitable research participation. Our findings suggest that tacit knowledge, context, and mechanisms for research are all critical features of CE and should be considered to enhance acceptance and sustainability of mental and brain health interventions in Kenya.

Are we on the same page? Understanding value similarity and its impact on public trust in institutions of the energy sector

Value similarity – the extent to which people think institutions managing risks hold different or similar values to themselves, affects trust in those institutions and as such, plays a critical role in the public acceptability of energy projects and policies. Yet, we do not know what constitutes value similarity. How do people judge the level of similarity between their own values and the values of an institution? What role do different values play in theses judgments? And to what extent can these perceived similarities actually increase trust in institutions? To explore this, we decomposed the construct of value similarity into one's personal values and the perceived values of an institution, and explored if their congruence led to higher ratings of perceived value similarity and trust in institutions. We studied these relationships for three institutions playing important roles in the energy sector in the Netherlands, in current and future energy systems. Overall, response surface analyses (RSA) showed that people see their own values and the values of an institution as more similar and trust the institution more when they both endorse biospheric values more strongly. Further, perceived value similarity and trust in institutions are higher when people perceive institutions to have stronger biospheric values than themselves and when they expect institutions to be less egoistic than themselves. We discuss these findings reflecting on what they suggest regarding the role of shared values in increasing trust in relevant institutions and acceptability of energy risks.

Socioeconomic challenges and opportunities in renewable energy transition

The global transition to renewable energy is a multifaceted endeavor that entails profound socioeconomic transformations. This study aimed to explore the socioeconomic challenges and opportunities inherent in this transition. By leveraging a comprehensive review of existing literature and case studies, this research provides insights into the economic, social, technological, and policy dimensions of renewable energy adoption. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of policy frameworks with quantitative assessment of economic impacts. Key findings indicate that while renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind, are increasingly cost-competitive, high initial capital costs and long payback periods remain significant barriers. Social and cultural resistance also poses challenges, particularly in communities with strong ties to traditional energy sources. Policy inconsistencies and regulatory uncertainties further complicate the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Conversely, the study highlights numerous opportunities. Renewable energy deployment can drive substantial job creation, stimulate local economies, and enhance energy security by diversifying energy sources. Technological advancements in energy storage and smart grids are crucial for integrating renewable energy into existing systems, thereby ensuring reliability and stability. Effective policy frameworks, such as feed-in tariffs and carbon pricing, are essential for fostering investment and innovation in the renewable energy sector. The study concludes that a holistic approach, integrating economic incentives, social engagement, and robust policy frameworks, is vital for overcoming challenges and maximizing the benefits of renewable energy. Recommendations for future research include exploring innovative financial instruments, advancing energy storage technologies, and enhancing public engagement to increase social acceptance of renewable energy projects. Keywords: Renewable Energy, Socioeconomic Challenges, Energy Policy, Technological Innovation, Energy Transition, Sustainable Development.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND PROSPECTS FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR RESTORATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN UKRAINE

The article analyzes the model of public-private partnership in Ukraine, its features, prospects for development and improvement. Particular attention is paid to the legislative, financial and technological aspects of public-private partnerships. The main emphasis is on the importance of public-private partnerships for rebuilding infrastructure after war, attracting private investment and benefits for government and business. The introduction describes the current situation in Ukraine and the importance of public-private partnerships in the country's recovery. The damage caused by the war in various sectors of the economy and the need for reconstruction are assessed. The concept of public-private partnership is revealed through the definition of basic principles, implementation mechanisms, history and legislative regulation in Ukraine. Innovative approaches proposed by modern research are described. The role of small businesses and individual entrepreneurs in the recovery process, their opportunities and benefits when participating in public-private partnerships, as well as measures to simplify procedures are considered. The specifics of public-private partnership processes in Ukraine and ways to improve them are analyzed through bureaucratic obstacles, financial instability, lack of investment, legal barriers and social acceptability of projects. Recommendations are offered for reforming the legislative framework, creating favorable financial conditions, using modern technologies, improving skills and involving the public. The main benefits for the state and business when interacting in the format of public-private partnership and ways of their implementation are given, including: attracting private investment, efficient use of resources, speed of project implementation, improving the quality of infrastructure, access to new markets, stable income, risk reduction and reputational benefits.

Why does community ownership foster greater acceptance of renewable projects? Investigating energy justice explanations

ABSTRACT The fact that community ownership increases the social acceptability of renewable energy projects is well established, but there is a lack of empirical evidence to explain why this is the case. This study examines whether energy justice factors (fair involvement, fair distribution of benefits and perceived impacts from wind turbines) can help explain this relationship, whether these factors are interrelated, and whether different ownership structures (community, shared or private ownership) change these associations. Using a postal survey of residents in Scotland (n = 320), the study employs a novel method, Multigroup-Structural Equation Modelling, to investigate these questions. This modelling reveals that acceptance of these projects was influenced by factors of energy justice (i.e. fair involvement, fair benefits and perceived impacts), but the influence from each factor depended on the ownership structure. Specifically, those near the community-owned project prioritised involvement, those near the privately-owned valued fair benefits, and those near the shared ownership prioritised both. By examining the relationships amongst energy justice factors, the real-life complexity of people’s responses to wind energy projects is revealed, whereby factors can have knock-on effects. Importantly, this study finds that the community and shared ownership projects fostered greater community acceptance than the privately-owned because they had more instances where fair involvement influenced other factors, which led to greater overall acceptance. Although community involvement may seem time-consuming, a more inclusive approach can prevent long-term issues caused by local opposition. Policy Highlights Community ownership of renewable energy projects leads to greater acceptance by local residents, as long as the projects meet their expectations. Energy justice plays a crucial role in acceptance of onshore wind energy projects, but residents prioritise different aspects depending on ownership. Policymakers and developers should take into account the preferences and concerns of local residents when designing renewable projects, especially in terms of fair involvement and fair distribution of benefits. Better support for communities and developers is essential if the Scottish Government want shared ownership offered on all new projects.

Determinants of community acceptance of geothermal energy projects: A case study on a geothermal energy project in Kenya

Geothermal energy is a dependable energy source that can catalyze socioeconomic development in developing countries. However, in several countries, geothermal energy sources face community opposition. Therefore, to enable the widespread use of geothermal energy, it is important to address these issues. This study aims to analyze the main factors influencing the community acceptance of geothermal energy projects in East-Africa. In this study, the controversial ’Olkaria IV Geothermal Project’ in Kenya, one of the top geothermal energy producers in the world, was considered as the case study.A quantitative survey was conducted using a questionnaire for 138 households affected by the project. Furthermore, a stepwise regression model was employed to investigate the determinant factors influencing community acceptance of the project. Fifteen independent variables were included in the model. Seven predictors were selected for the model, namely, “Perception of appropriate mitigation of environmental impacts”, “Isolation during the decision-making process”, “Understanding of socioeconomic benefits”, “Understanding of grievance mechanism”, “Understanding of environmental benefits”, “Perception about environmental impacts”, and “Explanation of grievance mechanism”. Notably, “Isolation during the decision-making process,” “Understanding of environmental benefits,” and “Explanation of grievance mechanism” portrayed a negative relationship with the dependent variable “Community acceptance”.This study highlights the importance of mitigating environmental impacts, raising awareness about mitigation measures, ensuring inclusive community engagement in the decision-making process (while considering specific cultural customs), and emphasizing the socioeconomic outcomes of the project. In addition, our study highlights the fact that the strong patriarchy of pastoral communities influences the inequality and feeling of isolation in the community, resulting in a communication gap within the community. Moreover, direct socioeconomic and environmental benefits through corporate social responsibility or royalty allowance schemes can also enhance community acceptance. Our study can serve as a framework for future studies that aim to promote the use of geothermal energy and improve the community acceptance of such projects.

Optimizing Thermal Energy Sharing in Smart District Heating Networks

The constant attention to sustainability aimed at reconciling economic and social development with environmental protection is the driving force of the continuous growth of renewable energy in the energy sector. Among the numerous actions taken by the European Commission (EC) in this direction, an important initiative towards the complete decarbonization is represented by the Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). According to the EC, “energy communities enable collective and citizen-driven energy actions to support the clean energy transition. They can contribute to increasing public acceptance of renewable energy projects and make it easier to attract private investments in the clean energy transition”. At the European level, numerous energy communities are emerging, although they are all based on photovoltaic production and, consequently, focus only on electricity flows. The aim of this paper is to define a thermal energy community in which thermal energy sharing can be achieved by exploiting the concept of the smart district heating network. Starting from a small existing district heating network, its conversion into a smart one will be analyzed and optimized with the aim of studying the sharing of thermal energy between the various prosumer and non-prosumer users connected to the district heating network.