Social Assessment - Wind Energy

Conducting social assessments have the purpose to evaluate and observe potential impacts of wind energy projects. Besides producing energy and providing for positive economic, social and environmental developments, in particular the windmills can cause un-wanted effects too. Possibly these are related to

• noise pollution
• visual disturbances
• well-being and comfort
• socio-economic valuation of land/property.

Mentioned negative impacts bear subjective connotations. For instance, the noise pollution might not all be assessed disturbing from a technical point of view; i.e. below noise emission values. However, inhabitants may consider it noisy nevertheless from the subjective point of view.

To circumvent or mitigate any negative effects, it is advisable to conduct ex-ante social (impact) assessments as well as to make the social and cultural aspects a continous observation are in monitoring. 

Aspects of social assessments

Cultural, socio-economic aspects

Social aspects of windparks - example Colombia

http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/de-windenergie-kolumbien-bruder-wind-2003.pdf

Tourism impacts

WORK in PROGRESS

lack of knowledge or understanding that sometimes translate to “fear of the unknown,”
which could also encompass social, cultural, and behavioural barriers.

identifying the concerned

cultural

Tourism impacts

The social impact assessment concluded that, if it proceeds, the Bald Hills Wind Farm would
have some negative social impacts for the community surrounding the project area. These
impacts would relate particularly to feelings of well being and a sense of a positive future for
people who are vigorously opposing the proposal. It is expected that some people would leave
the area if the project was approved. Some relationships in the local community will suffer,
particularly those between landholders who have turbines on their properties and their
neighbours. People who are less opposed or neutral are expected to become accustomed to the
wind farm. Some will find it visually appealing and it will add to their sense of enjoyment of
the area.
Existing social infrastructure was considered to be sufficient to manage the influx of contract
labour, although some additional short-term accommodation may need to be secured. Some
negative social impacts may be experienced during the construction phase due to construction
traffic and associated dust and noise. There may be some direct benefits to social
infrastructure from proposed company sponsorships

Visual Effect and Noise From Windmills--Quantifying and Valuation
November, 1996 by Jørgen Jordal-Jørgensen
Summary:
"The main idea of wind power is to produce electricity without air pollution and without using exhaustible natural resources. However, wind power involves certain costs. These costs are among other things due to the fact that windmills stand as a foreign element in the open landscape. Some people are of the opinion that windmills in an open landscape impinge on the recreative element of the landscape. In addition to this, windmills give off noise that, depending on the wind direction and distance from the windmill, can be a nuisance for those living in the vicinity.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how great the costs are from the visual effect and noise of the windmills. In order to make it possible to compare these costs with other costs and gains in relation to windmills, these costs are reckoned in cash terms. This has been done partly on the basis of the willingness to pay for getting rid of the windmills of people living in the vicinity (the interview method or contingent valuation), and partly using a survey of house prices in the vicinity of the windmills (the house price method or hedonic pricing) as a starting point."

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