OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, European Wind Energy Conference Mailand 7-10 May 2007 “Session: Winning hearts and minds“ Public Acceptance of Wind Energy Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg Prof. Dr. Petra Schweizer-Ries Juniorprofessor for Environmental Psychology

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Public acceptance of renewable energy systems and socio-scientific questions Research project promoted by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conversation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) concerning social issues of power generation by Wind energy utilisation (On-Shore) PV solar energy utilisation (ground-installed systems) Biomass utilisation

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, 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 assessment Developing a standardised measurement instrument Outlining of recommendations of possible conflict solution strategies

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Method Multi-methodological approach Quantitative polls (standardised Questionnaires) Qualitative interviews (expert interviews, process analysis) „Action research“

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, (Dethloff, 2004) Theoretical Acceptance Model Tolerance Indifference Adoption Ambivalence Rejection Reactance, Resistance negative appraisal positive appraisal Degree of activity A c c e p t a n c e N o n - A c c e p t a n c e

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Acceptance of RES: different variables Behaviour (conativ) Need for Nature Acceptance of renewable energies Reliability Economic Aspects Risk Evaluation Interest Landscape Evaluation (affective) Influence of Media Socio- economic data Justice (procedural & distributive) Visual contact Environmental Consciousness Landscape Evaluation (cognitive) Perception of political measures Location characteristic s Involvement Energy Consciousness

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Example Items In general, I support Wind energy plants (WEP). It is very important for me to be informed early when WEP are planned to be built in my community. I feel disturbed by the view if there is a WEP near my house. WEP fit in well in the characteristic landscape. WEP as part of the landscape do not attract my attention.

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Example Sample (latest poll) Date of data collection: December 06 – January 07 N = Villages –MOR: n = 95 (51,1%) –WEN: n = 24 (12,9%) –HEZ: n = 26 (14,0%) –HAG: n = 33 (17,7%) –No statement: n = 8 (4,3%) female: 79 (42,5%), male: 101 (54,3%) No statement: 6 (3,2%)

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Region in Germany 2 km 5 km = Mor 2 = Hez (direct view on wind power stations) 3 = Wen (same distance like Hez but no (only one) view on wind power stations) 4 = Hag (further away, strong community)

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Descriptive Statistics ScaleMSDN Acceptance2,271,26175 Renewable Energy1,61,78170 Economy3,22,9480 Risk Evaluation3,111,1084 Reliability2,501,21160 Perceived Justice3,24,7978 Participation Interest2,53,82156 Landscape3,59,90163 Impact on Affect3,341, Completely correct …………5 Completely incorrect

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, ScaleMORWENHEZHAG??? Acceptance 2,321,682,612,172,50 Renewable Energy 1,631,501,611,641,67 Economy 3,192,773,533,233,12 Risk Evaluation 3,153,932,693,002,37 Reliability 2,502,352,362,573,04 Perceived Justice 3,132,863,903,302,80 Particip. Interest 2,592,282,142,952,08 Landscape 3,643,263,913,363,66 Impact on Affect 3,373,742,803,542,92 Scale-Means of the villages

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Correlations ScaleAcceptanceN Renewable Energy.62**161 Economy.82**76 Risk Evaluation-.66**79 Reliability.70**153 Perceived Justice.54**73 Participation Interest Landscape.71**156 Impact on Affect-.83**154 **. Correlation is on the level of.01 (two-tailed) significant.

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Acceptance Part. Interest Affect Risk Evaluation Economy Landscape Renewable Energy Perceived Justice Chi-Square: Df: 9 P-value: 0.17 RMSEA: 0.04 RMR: 0.02 GFI: 0.98 AGFI: 0.93 PGFI:

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, Conclusion Voluntary resident-involvement beyond legal requirements Benefit for the Regions in economic and cultural values + communication about it! Support the identification process in the “affected regions” to win hearts and minds!

OvGU: Schweizer-Ries, Zoellner & Wemheuer European Wind Energy Conference Mailand, contact Prof. Dr. Petra Schweizer-Ries Juniorprofessor for Environmental Psychology Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg