This presentation outlines an approach for siting wind turbines that increases citizen acceptance through local adaptation. It involves an early and ongoing collaborative process between local citizens, municipalities, and project developers to share information, learn from each other, and gradually adapt the project to local physical and social conditions. The goal is to build social capital and trust in the community which leads to greater acceptance of projects and societal benefits like economic growth and environmental action. Challenges include gaining interest from citizens, establishing trust, and overcoming closed social networks or limited influence.

1. Social Micro-Siting
Increasing Acceptance Through
Local Adaption
Mariann Mannberg
.Researcher
Riklund AB and Lulea University of Technology

2. What?
This presentation shows the outline
of an approach and a method for
wind turbine location based on
increased citizen acceptance.

3. How?
Adapting to local conditions:
• Early collaborative approach
involving local citizens/projectors,
municipalities/citizens
• Ongoing process with mutual
information-sharing, learning,
problem-solving and gradual
reciprocal adaption

4. How?
Adapting to local
conditions:
• regarding the project
• regarding local physical structures
• regarding local societal structures

5. Social Micro-Siting From
global/national
municipal
and/or
What? Why?
How?
Specific factors General factors
projector
perspective
Tools
Local site/ Individual
Physical strucure,
history
Locally adapted
Social Networks Community
communicative
approach
Political decisons
Environment
Policy/Values
Why? What? Hur?
General factors Communal and Communal and
Individual factors Individual strategy
External factors
(Local-Global)
Through communal
and individual To Acceptance
perspective

6. Why?
Projectors Perspective:
• Site-specific problem solving
• Faster process (after
all, with fewer appeals)
• Smoother process
• Goodwill effect
.... and so much more friendly

7. Why?
Individual Perspective
• A right (according to Swedish Plan and Building
Act)
• Social interaction.
• Every-day sense of
security and well being
• Drive and engagement
• Development / Future

8. Why?
Positive Social
Development Societal Perspective
• Social capital
General • Economic growth
Sustainable
Develop- • Environmental action
ment
= Sustainable community
Positive Positive building!
Environmental Economic
Development Development

13. Communication

14. Communication
Cooperation

15. Communication
Social Networks Collaboration

16. Social Capital
Communication
Social Networks Collaboration

17. Acceptance, Well-being
& Security
Social Capital
Communication
Social Networks Collaboration

18. Acceptance, Well-being
& Security Societal benefits
Projector benefits
Social Capital
Communication
Social Networks Collaboration

19. Danger!! • Difficulty to awaken interest in
participating
• Too late
• Information: Dissemination
and assimilation
• Social structures (closed clusters, power)
• Lack of trust within the group and the
surrounding structures
• Limited ability to influence/Legitimacy
• Information flow (gatekeepers)
• To participate one must feel associated
(within the group and the developers /
society.

20. Contact:
Mariann Mannberg
070-6751196
maiann@riklund.se