A quiet public? Procedural justice in Portuguese wind energy governance

Abstract

Historically, wind energy has been central in studies on the social acceptance of renewable energy technologies within European countries, apart from Portugal. Public participation in wind energy developments in Portugal has been residual, resulting in a frequently unopposed deployment of wind energy in the country. In the context of the proliferation of new investments in wind energy expansion and ambitious future targets, this analysis takes stock of the Portuguese case study to enquire whether new developments led to a fairer public participation in wind energy, and what new civic participation dynamics are emerging. The approach comprises a review of existing literature, expert stakeholder interviews, and quantitative research on public consultations. Key findings reiterate that public participation for onshore wind has remained low through time, particularly when compared with solar power projects. Conversely, offshore wind has received more public opposition, especially from local fishing communities and environmental organizations. Higher levels of community participation for wind, and other renewable energy technologies such as solar, require more extensive policy changes, including community engagement measures, to achieve true distributive and procedural justice.