TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessing acceptability of two onshore wind power development schemes

T2 - A test of viewshed effects and the cumulative effects of wind turbines

AU - Ladenburg, Jacob

AU - Termansen, Mette

AU - Hasler, Berit

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Presently, onshore wind turbine densities are increasing in many countries. The "crowding" of wind turbines in especially the urban fringe and in more densely populated rural areas is expected to meet resistance. However, few studies have to date analysed the cumulative effects of wind power on the social acceptance of wind power. We shed light on this issue and find that the attitude towards increasing the onshore wind power capacity in Denmark is significantly influenced by the number of turbines people see on a daily basis. However, we find that this effect is conditional on having a wind turbine in the viewshed from the permanent or summer residence. Accordingly, if people cannot see an onshore wind turbine from their permanent or summer residence we do not find significant evidence of cumulative effects on attitude. Furthermore, if we hypothesise that an increase in the wind power capacity is implemented by replacing smaller wind turbines with larger ones, we find that the cumulative effects are reduced also among respondents having onshore wind turbines in the viewshed. This suggests that alternative strategies for increasing the onshore wind power capacity can have significant impact on social acceptance.

AB - Presently, onshore wind turbine densities are increasing in many countries. The "crowding" of wind turbines in especially the urban fringe and in more densely populated rural areas is expected to meet resistance. However, few studies have to date analysed the cumulative effects of wind power on the social acceptance of wind power. We shed light on this issue and find that the attitude towards increasing the onshore wind power capacity in Denmark is significantly influenced by the number of turbines people see on a daily basis. However, we find that this effect is conditional on having a wind turbine in the viewshed from the permanent or summer residence. Accordingly, if people cannot see an onshore wind turbine from their permanent or summer residence we do not find significant evidence of cumulative effects on attitude. Furthermore, if we hypothesise that an increase in the wind power capacity is implemented by replacing smaller wind turbines with larger ones, we find that the cumulative effects are reduced also among respondents having onshore wind turbines in the viewshed. This suggests that alternative strategies for increasing the onshore wind power capacity can have significant impact on social acceptance.

KW - Attitude

KW - Cumulative effects

KW - More wind turbines

KW - Replacement scheme

KW - Wind power

U2 - 10.1016/j.energy.2013.02.021

DO - 10.1016/j.energy.2013.02.021

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84876996691

VL - 54

SP - 45

EP - 54

JO - Energy

JF - Energy

SN - 0360-5442

ER -