Leaving no one behind!? Exploring how developers currently engage communities in onshore wind energy deployments

Abstract

Community and stakeholder engagement was widely discussed at the WindEurope Annual Event 2023 – an important convention for the European wind energy industry and policymakers. Interviews with four European wind energy developers and a social scientist at the convention reveal that developers' community engagement practices vary in their extent and purpose. In line with the literature, three approaches could be distinguished across developers. The first approach, instrumental engagement, focuses on overcoming public opposition through information provision and dialogue without actively involving residents in project planning. The second approach, normative engagement, recognizes the value of transparent and fair engagement, considering residents' concerns and feedback but with limitations on their influence over project decisions. The third approach, substantive engagement, seeks to empower communities and give them ownership over projects, aiming to improve social outcomes and make them part of the energy transition. While community engagement practices have improved, challenges remain, and a cultural change in the wind energy sector towards viewing communities as collaborators rather than opponents is needed. Educating engineers on the social impacts of wind energy and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations can contribute to more meaningful and successful community engagement in wind energy projects.