Due to Ireland's abundant wind resources, the Irish government are focussing primarily on wind energy to meet renewable electricity targets. However, due to intermittent wind speeds, the energy generated cannot be scheduled as consistently as conventional fuel sources, impacting power system security and stability. Developing wind energy that internalises intermittency could provide positive public impacts in the form of reduced emissions, increased renewable energy capacity and energy security but can also have negative impacts in the form of increased costs, visual disamenities, environmental impacts and reduced autarky, amongst others. This paper, published in Energy Research & Social Science, uses focus groups and a national survey of 1107 members of the public in Ireland, to evaluate public preferences for wind energy development that mitigates wind energy variability through electricity trade, battery storage, and demand side management. We observe substantial heterogeneity with respect to preferences for wind energy development with intermittency solutions. Approximately 62Â % of the sample derive positive utility from all solutions, appear unconcerned about the potential negative impacts of renewable energy infrastructure and display pro-wind energy sentiment. However, 38Â % do not derive utility from most or all of the solutions. The vast majority of our respondents; approximately 94Â %; support measures to compensate affected individuals for near neighbour externalities associated with wind power generation using local benefit funds even at a personal cost to themselves.
The full paper can be found here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629622004200