Difference between revisions of "Social Assessment - Wind Energy"

From energypedia
***** (***** | *****)
***** (***** | *****)
m
 
(29 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" />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
+
[[Portal:Wind|► Back to Wind Portal]]
  
 +
= Overview - Aspects of Social Assessments<br/> =
 +
 +
Conducting '''social assessments''' has 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.
 +
 +
<u>Possibly these are related to:</u>
 
*noise pollution
 
*noise pollution
*visual disturbances  
+
*visual disturbances
 
*well-being and comfort
 
*well-being and comfort
 
*socio-economic valuation of land/property.
 
*socio-economic valuation of land/property.
  
 +
<br/>
 +
 +
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 their 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 area in [[Monitoring_and_Evaluation_(M&E)_-_Wind_Energy|monitoring]].
 +
 +
<br/>
 +
 +
= Target Group / Stakeholder Analysis<br/> =
 +
 +
An important aspect of social assessments is the identification of the target group resp. the persons that are directly and indirectly concerned by the wind energy measure. Thereby, one can differentiate between the '''target group''' and stakeholder.
 +
 +
"The term target groups (beneficiaries) denotes those social groups within whose domain the results of a project are intended to take place.(...) In order for projects/programmes to be successful and sustainable, they must be geared to the desires, wishes, interests, needs and capabilities of the target group. Target groups are therefore fundamentally differentiated by the criteria of gender, social stratification, age and ethnicity."<ref>GTZ 2006: Begriffswelt. http://www.gtz.de/glossar/ p. 38/100. Eschborn</ref>
 +
 +
In comparison to this, '''stakeholder '''exceed the target groups while referring as well to the partners in a project and to "actors who hold at least a potential stake in a project and its change objective are usually termed stakeholders. The actors concerned wish to protect these interests and avoid losing them at all costs. The material resources, social position and knowledge of these stakeholders make them particularly potent, which enables them to wield significant influence over the design, planning and implementation of the project."<ref>GTZ 2008: Capacity WORKS. The Management Model for Sustainable Development. Eschborn, p. 80</ref>
  
 +
<u>The target group analysis is a methodological approach to establish how the target groups (ultimate beneficiaries, who are<br/>usually heterogeneous):</u>
 +
*perceive their problems,
 +
*to identify the changes they desire and
 +
*to establish their scope of action, in order to facilitate the target-group orientation of the project/programme.
  
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.
+
<br/>
  
 +
The target group analysis is absolutely essential for assessing the outset situation of a project/programme, though it is by no means confined to the preparation phase.
  
 +
(For an example on how to conduct a target group analysis, see for instance KfW Nr. 31. [http://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/DE_Home/Service_und_Dokumentation/Online_Bibliothek/PDF-Dokumente_Diskussionsbeitraege/AMD32_neu.pdf Zielgruppen- und Beteiligtenanalyse] in der FZ Januar 2003)
  
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 [[M&E_-_Wind_Energy|monitoring]].&nbsp;
+
<u>A stakeholder analysis assists in:</u>
 +
*identifying and visualising the relevant actors and their relationships.
 +
*It allows first conclusions and hypotheses to be formulated concerning the respective influence of the various actors on<br/>the issues at stake in the project,
 +
*and concerning relationships and mutual dependencies.
 +
*the analysis sheds light on alliances and problematic relationships. <ref>Parts of the article are based on: GTZ 2006: Begriffswelt. http://www.gtz.de/glossar/ p. 38/100. Status: September 2006 and: GTZ 2008: Capacity WORKS. The Management Model for Sustainable Development. Eschborn</ref>
  
 +
[[Social Assessment - Wind Energy#toc|►Go to Top]]
  
 +
= Socio-economic Aspects<br/> =
  
== Aspects of social assessments ==
+
Wind energy projects automatically bear impacts for the socio-economic conditions as already the construction, for instance, may imply:
 +
*the provision of employment opportunities
 +
*and capacity building on one hand;
 +
*or disturbance of farming activities, landscape,
 +
*construction noise and dust on the other hand.
  
 +
<br/>
  
 +
During operation, wind energy plants offer another source of income but may also affect property prices due to the locations of windmills.
  
=== Identification of target group / concerned persons ===
+
Besides identification of such potential positive and negative impacts, further measures might be necessary to alleviate/prevent/mitigate any negative "costs". One possibility can be sponsorship for social infrastructure projects; designing the windmills with the involvement of concerned target groups; joint site selection.
  
=== Cultural, socio-economic aspects ===
+
'''[http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/de-windenergie-kolumbien-bruder-wind-2003.pdf Social aspects of windparks] - Example Colombia (*German*)'''
  
 +
[[File:Großer bruder wind.JPG|frame|center|180px|Figure: Großer Bruder Wind]]
  
 +
[[Social Assessment - Wind Energy#toc|►Go to Top]]
  
Social aspects of windparks - example Colombia <br>  
+
= Tourism Impacts<br/> =
  
[[Image:Großer bruder wind.JPG]]<br>
+
In particular in areas with tourist attractions, windmills can cause "distrubance" in terms of obstruing the view, interrupting tourist activities etc. The may as well be seen as adding value, however.
  
http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/de-windenergie-kolumbien-bruder-wind-2003.pdf
+
<u>For this purpose, social assessments should further take into account to identify</u>:
 +
*any tourism infrastructure
 +
*important sites (also heritage sites!)
 +
*places with regular tourism activity
 +
*stakeholders in the tourism industry.
  
=== Tourism impacts  ===
+
[[Social Assessment - Wind Energy#toc|►Go to Top]]
  
<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WORK in PROGRESS</span><br>  
+
= Methods and Instruments<br/> =
  
lack of knowledge or understanding that sometimes translate to “fear of the unknown,”<br>which could also encompass social, cultural, and behavioural barriers.<br>
+
A variety of methods and instruments to conduct social assessments have been developed by development organizations, including
  
<br>
+
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
  
identifying the concerned<br>
+
<u>Approaches are for instance:</u>
 +
*Poverty and Social Impact analysis (PSIA)
 +
*Poverty Impact Assessment (PIA)
 +
*Social Impact Assessment
  
cultural <br>
+
[[Social Assessment - Wind Energy#toc|►Go to Top]]
  
Tourism impacts<br><br>
+
The first mentioned approaches clearly put emphasis on assessing impacts that specifically concern poor people. PSIA are implemented in the framework of so called '''PRSP (Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers)'''<ref>cp. e.g. GTZ PRSP. http://www.gtz.de/en/themen/uebergreifende-themen/armut/7166.htm, retrieved 07-2011</ref>.
  
<br>
+
"Social Impact Assessment also looks at the institutional or societal context of a reform or measure and weighs up its political feasibility, tying in sound analysis and dialogue at all stages. The analysis delivers the facts needed to evaluate reform proposals and outlines potential options; actors from politics, sector institutions and civil society engage in dialogue to negotiate a feasible compromise. This places reforms on a wider basis, giving them a better chance of success." <ref>GIZ 2011: Methods and Instruments.Social Impact Assessment. http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/giz2011-en-social-impact-assessment.pdf, p. 1</ref>
  
The social impact assessment concluded that, if it proceeds, the Bald Hills Wind Farm would<br>have some negative social impacts for the community surrounding the project area. These<br>impacts would relate particularly to feelings of well being and a sense of a positive future for<br>people who are vigorously opposing the proposal. It is expected that some people would leave<br>the area if the project was approved. Some relationships in the local community will suffer,<br>particularly those between landholders who have turbines on their properties and their<br>neighbours. People who are less opposed or neutral are expected to become accustomed to the<br>wind farm. Some will find it visually appealing and it will add to their sense of enjoyment of<br>the area.<br>Existing social infrastructure was considered to be sufficient to manage the influx of contract<br>labour, although some additional short-term accommodation may need to be secured. Some<br>negative social impacts may be experienced during the construction phase due to construction<br>traffic and associated dust and noise. There may be some direct benefits to social<br>infrastructure from proposed company sponsorships<br>
+
For Wind Energy projects "social impact assessments" facilitate the dialogue with social actors; this approach assists to make potential risks and conflicts transparent in order to implement possibly required mitigation measures.
  
Visual Effect and Noise From Windmills--Quantifying and Valuation<br>November, 1996 by Jørgen Jordal-Jørgensen<br>Summary:<br>"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.
+
[[Social Assessment - Wind Energy#toc|►Go to Top]]
  
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." <br>
+
= Further Information =
  
<br>
+
*[[Portal:Wind|Wind Portal on energypedia]]
  
<br>
+
[[Social Assessment - Wind Energy#toc|►Go to Top]]
  
[[Portal:Wind]]<br>
+
= References =
  
<br>  
+
<references />
  
 +
[[Category:Impacts_Social]]
 
[[Category:Wind]]
 
[[Category:Wind]]

Latest revision as of 12:21, 29 August 2014

► Back to Wind Portal

Overview - Aspects of Social Assessments

Conducting social assessments has 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 their 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 area in monitoring.


Target Group / Stakeholder Analysis

An important aspect of social assessments is the identification of the target group resp. the persons that are directly and indirectly concerned by the wind energy measure. Thereby, one can differentiate between the target group and stakeholder.

"The term target groups (beneficiaries) denotes those social groups within whose domain the results of a project are intended to take place.(...) In order for projects/programmes to be successful and sustainable, they must be geared to the desires, wishes, interests, needs and capabilities of the target group. Target groups are therefore fundamentally differentiated by the criteria of gender, social stratification, age and ethnicity."[1]

In comparison to this, stakeholder exceed the target groups while referring as well to the partners in a project and to "actors who hold at least a potential stake in a project and its change objective are usually termed stakeholders. The actors concerned wish to protect these interests and avoid losing them at all costs. The material resources, social position and knowledge of these stakeholders make them particularly potent, which enables them to wield significant influence over the design, planning and implementation of the project."[2]

The target group analysis is a methodological approach to establish how the target groups (ultimate beneficiaries, who are
usually heterogeneous):

  • perceive their problems,
  • to identify the changes they desire and
  • to establish their scope of action, in order to facilitate the target-group orientation of the project/programme.


The target group analysis is absolutely essential for assessing the outset situation of a project/programme, though it is by no means confined to the preparation phase.

(For an example on how to conduct a target group analysis, see for instance KfW Nr. 31. Zielgruppen- und Beteiligtenanalyse in der FZ Januar 2003)

A stakeholder analysis assists in:

  • identifying and visualising the relevant actors and their relationships.
  • It allows first conclusions and hypotheses to be formulated concerning the respective influence of the various actors on
    the issues at stake in the project,
  • and concerning relationships and mutual dependencies.
  • the analysis sheds light on alliances and problematic relationships. [3]

►Go to Top

Socio-economic Aspects

Wind energy projects automatically bear impacts for the socio-economic conditions as already the construction, for instance, may imply:

  • the provision of employment opportunities
  • and capacity building on one hand;
  • or disturbance of farming activities, landscape,
  • construction noise and dust on the other hand.


During operation, wind energy plants offer another source of income but may also affect property prices due to the locations of windmills.

Besides identification of such potential positive and negative impacts, further measures might be necessary to alleviate/prevent/mitigate any negative "costs". One possibility can be sponsorship for social infrastructure projects; designing the windmills with the involvement of concerned target groups; joint site selection.

Social aspects of windparks - Example Colombia (*German*)

Figure: Großer Bruder Wind

►Go to Top

Tourism Impacts

In particular in areas with tourist attractions, windmills can cause "distrubance" in terms of obstruing the view, interrupting tourist activities etc. The may as well be seen as adding value, however.

For this purpose, social assessments should further take into account to identify:

  • any tourism infrastructure
  • important sites (also heritage sites!)
  • places with regular tourism activity
  • stakeholders in the tourism industry.

►Go to Top

Methods and Instruments

A variety of methods and instruments to conduct social assessments have been developed by development organizations, including

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Approaches are for instance:

  • Poverty and Social Impact analysis (PSIA)
  • Poverty Impact Assessment (PIA)
  • Social Impact Assessment

►Go to Top

The first mentioned approaches clearly put emphasis on assessing impacts that specifically concern poor people. PSIA are implemented in the framework of so called PRSP (Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers)[4].

"Social Impact Assessment also looks at the institutional or societal context of a reform or measure and weighs up its political feasibility, tying in sound analysis and dialogue at all stages. The analysis delivers the facts needed to evaluate reform proposals and outlines potential options; actors from politics, sector institutions and civil society engage in dialogue to negotiate a feasible compromise. This places reforms on a wider basis, giving them a better chance of success." [5]

For Wind Energy projects "social impact assessments" facilitate the dialogue with social actors; this approach assists to make potential risks and conflicts transparent in order to implement possibly required mitigation measures.

►Go to Top

Further Information

►Go to Top

References

  1. GTZ 2006: Begriffswelt. http://www.gtz.de/glossar/ p. 38/100. Eschborn
  2. GTZ 2008: Capacity WORKS. The Management Model for Sustainable Development. Eschborn, p. 80
  3. Parts of the article are based on: GTZ 2006: Begriffswelt. http://www.gtz.de/glossar/ p. 38/100. Status: September 2006 and: GTZ 2008: Capacity WORKS. The Management Model for Sustainable Development. Eschborn
  4. cp. e.g. GTZ PRSP. http://www.gtz.de/en/themen/uebergreifende-themen/armut/7166.htm, retrieved 07-2011
  5. GIZ 2011: Methods and Instruments.Social Impact Assessment. http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/giz2011-en-social-impact-assessment.pdf, p. 1