Although social acceptance research has blossomed over the last decade, interdisciplinary studies combining market, socio-political and community aspects are scarce. We propose a novel integration of social science theory in which the belief systems or social representations held by key actors play a crucial role in fostering acceptance of novel technologies, and where a polycentric perspective places particular emphasis on ways that middle actors mediate processes of change between scales. We advance a methodological approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research methods and exemplify the framework by focusing on acceptance of renewable energy storage solutions to accommodate high levels of renewable energy deployment. A research agenda for the social acceptance of energy storage is proposed that sets out key research questions relating international, national and local levels. The outcome of such studies would not only lead to enhanced understanding of processes of social acceptance, but deliver important insights for policy and practice.
Transmission lines are critical infrastructures, but frequently contested especially at the local level, by local communities. The role of public engagement in processes pertaining to specific transmission line projects is an under-researched, yet important topic that this paper seeks to discuss by investigating how inhabitants perceive these processes and to what extent they find the processes just and fair. This paper addresses the participatory aspects of the planning process, as perceived by the local inhabitants in four Norway and UK cases, by using a qualitative comparative case study design. We further analyse this issue through frameworks of public engagement and procedural justice. In both countries public engagement is largely characterized by perceptions of insufficient information, and insufficient influence on the process. In sum, the findings indicate that the informants generally perceive the opportunities for involvement as insufficient and unjust. The findings are quite similar across all cases and both countries. Local inhabitants represent diverse groups who often have different levels of knowledge, time and engagement to bring to the planning process. Their requests for improved processes thus underline the serious public engagement challenges that applicants and decision-makers face.
Cover Letter
1'Local perceptions of opportunities for engagement and procedural justice in electricity transmission grid projects in Norway and the UK' Report on the editing accord. to reviewers' commments:Reviewer #1: Thanks a lot for the opportunity for reviewing this well written drafted article on a topic that has not previously been very well covered in academic journals. Work on public engagement and acceptance is available, but very few has done such an excellent work through the lenses of procedural justice. I find it very valid to apply the key aspects chosen and then to apply these on the empirical findings from Norway and the UK. Well done. This article should be published A.S.A.P. The only minor comment is the final reference to the National Public Debate Commission (NPDC)employed in a French-Spanish transmission line. It could have been interesting to learn whether such a NPDC could influence the assessment of the key aspects chosen to assess procedural justics, but I guess that this is beyond the scope of the article...
Response:We have strengthened the reference to the mentioned study. See last sentence in the concluding part, under section 6 Discussion:
This knowledge will contribute to a broader understanding of procedural justice as an important dimension of the wider energy justice research field, which is of crucial importance for the further decarbonization of the European energy system.Reviewer #2: This is a very good article-it addresses an important topic, uses a sound methodology, and is well written. It is almost ready to publishing, meaning my recommendation is to accept the piece with a few minor revisions.First, I like how the piece situates itself at the nexus of electrici...
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