Title:
Enabling Legislation to Increase Public Acceptance for Res Projects Across Europe - Co-Power
Author(s):
Mergner, R., Rutz, D., Janssen, R., Roberts, J., Scherbarth, S.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
Public support is a key to reaching the EU's 2020 RES (Renewable Energy Sources) target. Community RES projects can turn public opposition into support for new RES installations and infrastructure, including grids. Research demonstrates that if citizens are actively involved in RES projects from the initial proposal, and the economic and social benefits of such projects are shared, public acceptance is far higher. Community ownership of renewable energy plants can mobilise local investment, improve the acceptability and increase local community benefits of renewable energy. There are several European examples of how citizen involvement has accelerated the development of RES. However, the share of community owned renewable energy plants differs a lot in the EU countries. In Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, upfront financing is a particularly large barrier to achieving a higher share of RES. The problem of enabling legislation for and financing of community RES projects at the European, national and local level is addressed by the CO-POWER project (Enabling legislation to increase acceptance for RES projects across Europe) which is supported by the Intelligent Energy for Europe Programme of the European Union. The project is raising awareness among policy makers on the benefits of community RES ownership.This paper gives an overview on community energy models and recommendations for legal frameworks.
Keywords:
legal aspects, climate change, decentralised generation, renewable energies, strategies, legislation, community power, decentralised energy
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Public perception and acceptance
Event:
23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4DO.7.5
Pages:
1457 - 1459
ISBN:
978-88-89407-516
Paper DOI:
10.5071/23rdEUBCE2015-4DO.7.5
Price:
FREE
