Europe's Green Energy Revolution Hits Unexpected Roadblocks
Encouraging incentives, work opportunities, and enhanced services: Could communal involvement generate genuine backing for renewable energy sources?
The energy sector in Europe is undergoing a swift metamorphosis, with renewable energy breaking records and contributing to 50% of the EU's electricity demand in 2021, primarily through wind and solar power. This growth is projected to continue, paving the way for potential savings of €2.5 trillion in energy bills by 2040.
However, translating the public's support for this shift into tangible progress on the ground isn't straightforward. While a majority of Europeans back wind power, a growing anti-renewables movement is slowing the implementation of green energy projects across the continent.
"Most Europeans support this shift. Across the continent, around four in five people consistently back wind power in public opinion polls," says Guy Willems from WindEurope. But, as Willems notes, "public support can't be taken for granted due to the increasing disinformation, often amplified by high-profile political figures."
Disinformation Fuels European Anti-Renewables Movement
Disinformation campaigns have become a significant hindrance to the renewable energy transition in Europe. For instance, Sardinia, an island critical to the climate crisis, is experiencing delays in transitioning to coal and fossil gas despite a drought-induced state of emergency affecting its tourism and agriculture sectors. Disinformation labels wind and solar projects as an "invasion" and "irreversible devastation," despite their potential to help Sardinia become a renewable energy pioneer.
A similar pattern can be seen in France, where a report published in April 2023 revealed that media outlets were spreading misinformation, particularly about the unreliability and harm of renewable energy. "The nuclear industry, as well as the fossil fuel industry, undoubtedly help to fuel the anti-renewables movement in public debate," says Etienne Charbit from French NGO réseau Cler.
In Germany, a 'Not in my Backyard' (NIMBY) attitude has caused a slowdown in wind power expansion, with only 3.25GW of new capacity installed in 2024 compared to an expansion target of 8GW. "While there was a 54.7 per cent acceptance rate for the expansion of onshore wind, support for the construction of turbines decreases the closer proposals are to people’s homes," says a survey conducted by the German Economic Institute.
The Importance of Community Engagement
While disinformation poses a significant challenge, it should not overshadow the legitimate concerns of communities impacted by renewable energy projects. "The formation of anti-renewable energy organisations can also stem from legitimate concerns, such as insufficient consideration of local needs and a lack of engagement of local communities during the different phases of projects," says Charbit.
Promoting genuine community engagement in renewable energy projects can help build trust and support. "Fair community benefit-sharing breaks this pattern by addressing local needs. Inclusion comes through participation, and when locals are involved in planning, designing, decision-making, and ownership, they become ambassadors of change," explains Alexandros Koutras, project manager at the Electra Energy cooperative in Greece.
When projects like wind farms are co-owned, Koutras adds, people are more likely to take collective responsibility and tackle challenges together, as they reap the rewards as well.
Overcoming Obstacles Through Community Engagement
The Fast and Fair Renewables & Grids initiative, facilitated by ICLEI Europe, aims to develop shared principles for efficient and community-supported renewable energy project deployment. Developers have agreed to offer community benefits such as direct funding, electricity discounts, and co-ownership, where permitted by law. Businesses have also agreed on the importance of preserving nature and biodiversity in the implementation of new projects.
Models of community engagement and benefit-sharing for renewable energy projects vary across Europe. What we do know is that people need to see direct, tangible, and proportionate benefits from projects built in their neighborhoods. "Engagement with local residents and relevant stakeholders needs to be early, accessible, and continuous during the planning, development, and operation of a renewable energy project," says Seda Orhan, renewable energy programme manager at CAN Europe.
By prioritizing community engagement and benefits, renewable energy projects can foster local development, build public support, and aid the transition to a sustainable energy future.
Related
- 'Breakneck speed': Renewables reached 60 per cent of Germany's power mix last year
- Renewables stepped up to meet surge in energy demand from rising temperatures in 2024, IEA says
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- Hopefully, the increasing integration of science, particularly environmental-science, into education-and-self-development programs will equip Europeans with the knowledge to differentiate truth from disinformation about renewable energy.
- As the business sector continues to shift towards renewable energy finance, maximizing operational efficiency and reducing costs will be integral, even in the face of anti-renewables movements fueled by disinformation.
- In the realm of general-news and technology, it is crucial to combat disinformation campaigns about renewable energy and its impact on the environment, as these narratives can adversely affect public opinion and slow down the transition to green energy.
- To counter the anti-renewables movement, it is imperative to engage local communities, ensuring fair community benefits, and fostering a sense of collective responsibility, as demonstrated by the Electra Energy cooperative in Greece.
- Disinformation campaigns have affected the progress of renewable energy projects in various European countries, such as Sardinia, France, and Germany, necessitating a renewed commitment to community engagement and benefit-sharing.
- Buildings and infrastructures powered by renewable energy will significantly impact Europe's lifestyle, contributing to a more sustainable future and providing a path to reduced energy bills, as projected by the International Energy Agency.
- The Fast and Fair Renewables & Grids initiative, an endeavor to develop shared principles for efficient community-supported renewable energy project deployment, highlights the importance of engaging local residents and stakeholders across all phases of renewable energy projects.
