%A Niek Esselink
%D 2024
%T Solar fields in the Dutch province of Drenthe
%X 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.
%L theses_frw4535