PREVIOUS PROJECTS
Portfolio of Work
AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY PREFERENCES FOR WIND FARM DEVELOPMENT IN IRELAND
This work was carried out as PhD research for Noreen Brennan's doctoral thesis. This work incorporated focus groups, surveys and econometric techniques. The key findings reveal that the majority of survey respondents are willing to make (monetary) trade-offs to allow for wind energy projects and respondents require less compensation if provision is made for a community representative and setback distance is increased. Although specific projects involving the export of renewable energy from Ireland to the UK is currently on hold, the findings suggest that significant investment is required by the state and wind farm operators in better information provision, trust building, effective instruments to internalise wind farm externalities and co-management arrangements before Ireland can fully capture the benefits of wind exports to the UK.
​
This work was carried out under the Earth and Natural Sciences Doctoral Studies Programme, which is funded under the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions and co-funded under the European Regional Development fund.
To view more detail or to download the thesis click the button below.
AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF WIND FARM EXTERNALITIES AND PUBLIC PREFERENCES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IRELAND
This project aimed to better understand public attitudes and social acceptance of both on and off-shore wind farm projects in Ireland. We find that the majority of respondents to be generally in favour of wind energy. Respondents show less support for wind farms developed for export. We find that respondents require less compensation if provision is made for comprehensive levels of engagement.
​
This work was carried out by the NUIG wind energy research team and the Tipperary Energy Agency and was funded by SEAI under the Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Programme 2017 (RDD/00137).
​
To view more detail or to download the project report click the button below.
Get in touch for more information or to suggest areas for future research.