Esselink, Niek (2024) Solar fields in the Dutch province of Drenthe. Master thesis.
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Abstract
As climate change continues, the Netherlands is undergoing an energy transition, with the Dutch province of Drenthe experiencing a rapid development of solar fields in the last decade. However, this growth has faced increasing criticism, suggesting that social acceptance for these projects is low. This raises the question of how the growth of solar energy can continue despite decreasing acceptance. This study employs a combination of theory, interviews, and surveys to identify which governance arrangements and factors promote social acceptance of solar energy in Drenthe. The factors influencing acceptance are categorized into three themes: Trust from locals, which includes leadership, past experiences with similar projects, and procedural fairness; Distributional Fairness, which covers local ownership and compensation. And Landscape Integration, which involves smart land use and location characteristics. These factors interact and overlap to shape the overall degree of acceptance. The results indicate that locals are more accepting of solar fields if they provide both aesthetic and economic benefits. This often means that the previous land use was considered unattractive or ecologically insignificant, such as areas along infrastructure, brownfields, or brackish land. There is also a strong preference for rooftop solar panels, but current legislation and the absence of policy have prolonged the planning process. A policy dilemma arises for policymakers, who must choose between clearly defining and mandating local ownership or keeping it flexible to attract market parties. Policymakers must learn from these planning experiences to mitigate future rejection of similar projects.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Degree programme: | Environmental & Infrastructure Planning |
| Supervisor: | Roo, G. de |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Jul 2024 12:18 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Jul 2024 12:18 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4535 |
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