How to obtain social licences to operate for renewable energy projects A case study of Zonnepark Ameland Master thesis Cultural Geography R. Bijlsma 27-01-2020 Picture on front page: Duurzaam Ameland, 2019a Rutger Bijlsma (ing) S 3286533 Master Cultural Geography Faculty of Spatial Sciences Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Campus Fryslân
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[email protected] Supervisor: prof. dr. F.M.D. (Frank) Vanclay Preface “Geen draagvlak, dan geen zonnepark” (Omrop Fryslân, 2017). Translation: “No public acceptance, no solar farm”, that is what the Councillor of the Municipality of Leeuwarden said about the controversies surrounding an initiative for a solar farm near the village of Wirdum in the north of the Netherlands. The people of Wirdum reportingly, were furious (Bosma, 2017). What could have happened here? The explanation was evident: the developers simply handed in their application of a 41-hectare solar farm without any form of consultation, participation or engagement in regard of the inhabitants of Wirdum (Omrop Fryslân, 2017). This case shows two sings that are important for this thesis. First, that governments are demanding more public participation in developments and that renewable energy projects need acceptance/approval from communities in order to gain legal licences. Second, it shows that without proper community engagement strategies, developers will not gain acceptance or approval from communities for their projects. In my Bachelor, my Master and my work as a consultant, I have tried to find ways on how projects can obtain this acceptance and/or approval from communities. I am thankful that I could explore this in my thesis under the guidance of professor Vanclay.