Local impact of community renewable energy: A case study of an Orcadian community-led wind scheme

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 138; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Author: van der Waal, Esther C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Case studies; Change mapping; Cohesion; Community; Community energy; Economic development; Energy; Energy development; Energy policy; Energy technology; Evaluation; Impact assessment; Income; Indirect effects; Local economic development; Local impact; Mapping; Ownership; Policy making; Renewable energy; Renewable resources; Research methodology; Residents; Skill development; Social cohesion; Social development; Social services; Socio-economic impact; Vulnerability; Wind; Work skills; Socio-economic impact; Local impact; Community energy; Impact assessment; Change mapping
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111193

Local benefits of community renewable energy (CRE) –ranging from an increase in social cohesion, jobs, services, knowledge and skills - are widely assumed in academia and among policy makers. However, there are both a lack of evidence on these impacts and a lack of formal impact assessment methodologies to assess them. This research explores change mapping, an impact assessment methodology, to contribute to evaluative frameworks for assessment of the effects of CRE projects on their host communities. With this methodology, the local impacts of a 900 kW community wind project on the Scottish island Shapinsay are assessed, using an exploratory survey, interviews, and two focus group sessions. When it comes to the local impacts, the biggest changes residents experience are either direct or indirect effects of the RE revenues. Modest but ostensible effects are visible on local economic development, social cohesion, and knowledge and skill development. From the case study can be concluded that community-ownership of energy technologies can indeed be empowering, but also creates vulnerability. Stable energy policies and support during the operational phase are needed to keep up the stream of RE income that functions as a source of independent income.
•Change mapping is presented as impact assessment method for local impats of CRE;•The types of local impacts of CRE on its host community have been inventarised;•The biggest impacts in the case study are direct or indirect effects of RE revenues;•RE income functions as independent income for regional development;•Support during the operational phase of CRE projects is needed to sustain impact.