Beyond a checklist for acceptance: understanding the dynamic process of community acceptance

Community acceptance is considered a prerequisite for successful energy transitions and the uptake of renewable energy technologies (RET). While most research focusses on what causes community opposition, it stays unclear ‘how community acceptance comes about’, both in science and policy. In this talk we will dive into how community acceptance comes about and how to study acceptance overall. First of all, this is done by studying the dynamic process of community acceptance where (1) different actor groups can have (2) different roles and (3) different active and passive responses towards (4) different objects of acceptance within the RET project implementation. Secondly, we will look into examples of wind-and solar projects in the Netherlands that have been successfully implemented without formally articulated opposition. With this we will dive into the more nuanced understanding of community acceptance in general, and the relationship of acceptance and public engagement more specifically.

About Nikki:

Nikki Kluskens is a PhD researcher and focusses on the Social Aspects of the Energy Transition. As part of the Technology, Innovation and Society group (Eindhoven University of Technology) her research interest and expertise concentrates around the intersection of energy justice, public engagement (citizenship) and acceptance. Her work always includes studying social aspects of the energy transition over time. Her latest work is on community acceptance in the context of the energy transition. She has a background in European Law (LLB) and Sustainability Science & Policy (MSc.). Her PhD is embedded within the FLEXINET project, which focusses on energy flexibility and hybrid heat/energy storage facilities.