2nd phd seminar on wind energy in europe, roskilde jan zoellner, ovgu magdeburg acceptance of wind...
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2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Acceptance of wind energy plants -A psychological approach towards
the acceptance of wind energy plants
Jan ZoellnerDepartment of Psychology
Research Group Environmental Psychology
Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
“Public acceptance of renewable energy systems and socioscientific questions”
Research project promoted by the Federal Ministry for
the Environment, Nature Conversation and Nuclear
Safety (BMU) concerning the social issues of power
generation by
• Wind energy utilisation (On-Shore)• PV solar energy utilisation (ground-installed
systems)
• Biomass utilisation
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Research aims
• Detailed understanding of actual degrees of acceptance and their determinants
• Systematisation of relevant influence factors to the formation process of public acceptance
• Regarding possible differences between different regions in perception and evaluation
• Developing a standardised questionnaire • Outlining of recommendations of
possible conflict solution strategies
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Method
• Multi-methodological approach • Different regions, case studies
• Expert interviews, process analysis
• Quantitative polls
• „Action research“
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Method
• Research in literature and other media• Consideration the main arguments in
wind turbines based conflicts• Systematisation of conflict contents and
building up links to basic psychological research and theories
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Main Arguments in Current Wind Debates (pros)
• Reduction of CO2 emissions• use of „clean“ energy• independence from fossil fuels and nuclear
energy• creation of new jobs• increasing export profits • becoming technological market leader in
this branch
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Main Arguments in Current Wind Debates (cons)
• negative impacts on the natural scenery• potential risks for nature (e.g. for the
avifauna)• negative economical balance, electricity
would become more expensive• risks caused by less reliability for the power
grid and energy supply• negative impacts on the quality of life for
residents
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Acceptance of wind energy: possible influencing variables
Behaviour(conativ)
Need for Nature
Acceptance ofwind energy
Reliability
Economic Aspects
Risk Evaluation
Interest
Impacts on the affective
system
Influence of Media
Energy Consciousne
ss
Socio-economic
data
Justice(procedural & distributive)
Visual contact
Environmental Consciousness
Landscape Evaluation(cognitive)
Perception of political measures
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Conflicting interests
• Wind energy as a topic of actual socio-political relevance
• Strong promotion by Federal Government
• Public polls show a support of wind energy in principle
• On local levels citizens’ initiatives formed up
global aims
local needs
c o n f l i c t
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Social Psychological Approaches
• Attitude research– Three-component models (e.g. Rosenberg &
Hovland, 1960)• Social Justice Theory
– Distributive and procedural justice (e.g. Adams, 1965; Tyler, 1980, ; Leventhal, 1980)
• Risk evaluation– Perception and disposition (e.g. Günther, 1998)
• Influence of the media– Agenda-setting theory (e.g. McCombs & Shaw,
1972)
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Environmental Psychological Approaches
• Human-Environment-Interaction– Transactionalistic approach (e.g. Ittelson, 1974)
• Perception of natural scenery– Aesthetical needs (e.g. Hellbrück, 1999)
• Local Identity– Mental representations of homeland (e.g. Haubl,
1998)
• Environmental awareness– Sensibility for changes in climate (e.g. Kuckartz,
1998)
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Questionnaire construction
• Based on the theoretical background• Developing several quantitative scales
for measuring relevant aspects, five-step answer structure
• Conative Items: concrete behaviour and behaviour intention
• Choice of interesting regions for contrasting scientific research concerning the wind energy utilisation
• Open questions to get qualitative data
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Sample Items 1
Energy related topics are counted among the biggest problems in our society.
To guarantee energy generation in future, the use of renewable energies is mandatory. In the long run, wind energy plants are financially favourable electricity generators.
Because of wind energy, electricity will become more expensive. There are too many wind energy plants already.
Wind energy plants disfigure the landscape.
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Sample Items 2
My quality of life is restricted because of wind energy plants.
I feel constricted because of the sight of wind energy plants. Local authorities conduct the planning of wind energy plants in an fair manner.
I would like to have a bigger say in the planning procedures.
I am financially involved in a wind energy plant project.
I support demonstrations against wind energy plants.
I try to persuade my friends to the benefits of wind energy.
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
„I support wind energy as a matter of principle“
Statement is...
..entirely correct
..partially correct
..I am undecided
..rather incorrect
..entirely incorrect
29,2%
37,1%
15,1%
9,3%
9,3%
67,3%
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Results 1aCorrelation of the scales
scale acceptance
economy .71**
affective impacts
-.65**
natural scenery
.55**
reliability -.42**
**. Correlation is on the level of 0.01 (2-tailed) significant ( Pearson)
*. Correlation is on the level of 0.05 (2-tailed) significant ( Pearson)
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Results 1bCorrelation of the scales
scale acceptance
risks -.36**
justice .35**
clima. awareness
.31**
envir. awareness
.16*
**. Correlation is on the level of 0.01 (2-tailed) significant ( Pearson)
*. Correlation is on the level of 0.05 (2-tailed) significant ( Pearson)
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Results 2aMean differences between the counties
scale T df sig. (2-tailed)
climate awareness
-3,01 289
,00
environ. awareness
1,64 289
,10
natural scenery
4,24 289
,00
impacts affective
-1,97 289
,05
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Results 2bMean differences between the counties
scale T df sig. (2-tailed)
economy 4,48 289 ,00
reliability -2,63 289 ,01
risks ,71 289 ,47
justice 1,49 289 ,13
acceptance
2,93 289 ,00
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Perception of political measures
• Based on qualitative and quantitave data
• General attitude towards politics• Media reports
– On global and local level
• Low degree of information– Low degree of knowledge – Diffuse/unclear imaginations about the
topic and the involved actors, laws etc
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
• Connection between global and local level through corresponding actors
• Perceived justice during the implementation process (local authorities)
• Presentation of operating companies on site
• Association between the object „RES“ and politics: image, trust…
• Impact on „overall evaluation“ – support/rejection
Perception of political measures
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Perception of political measures
• residents criticise that their interests are not represented by local politicians, particularly when compared to economic interests
• concerning the assumed motivation of wind energy plants operators, profit seeking and economic interests were named instead of environmental ambitions
• politicians and operators are condemned as untrustworthy and considered "a coalition of the mighty“
• More "correct" and objective information from an independent institution is requested
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
„Local authorithies conduct the planning of wind energy plants in a fair manner.“
05101520253035404550
entirelyincorrect
ratherincorrect
undecided partiallycorrect
entirelycorrect
%
14%
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
„Conflicts in the planning stage are solved to the satisfaction of all.“
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
entirelyincorrect
ratherincorrect
undecided partiallycorrect
entirelycorrect
%
11%
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
„In the planning and implementation stages, all interests of citizens are taken into account.“
05101520253035404550
entirelyincorrect
ratherincorrect
undecided partiallycorrect
entirelycorrect
13%
%
66,3%
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
„I would like to have a bigger say in the planning procedures.“
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
entirelyincorrect
ratherincorrect
undecided partiallycorrect
entirelycorrect
64%%
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
entirelyincorrect
ratherincorrect
undecided partiallycorrect
entirelycorrect
%
„I would like more information by the media“
65%
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Discussion
• Importance of justice in context of wind energy in general could be shown
• Distributive as well as procedural justice are relevant parameters
• Information as a first step or “basic level” of justice and participation
• Role of broad and accurate information on local level in early stages of planning processes
2nd PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe, Roskilde Jan Zoellner, OvGU Magdeburg
Discussion
• Social processes are important factors to the formation of public acceptance
• Emphasising of regarding the social framework in which wind energy is embedded (residents want to have a say)
• Incentives or compensations (financial or concerning the landscape) might improve distributive justice
• Individuals as well as regions should benefit from wind energy
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