Evaluating the impacts of community measures in the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme.

An image of wind and solar sustainable energy solutions

Project Description

This research project funded by SEAI, will measure the effect of community benefit funds and household payments on the attitudes of people who live close to new wind and solar projects. It employs a difference-in-difference approach to achieve this. In 2022, Indecon Economic Consultants and Ipsos MRBI designed and conducted the 'baseline' national survey of households close to 50 new wind and solar power generation projects. In 2024 or 2025 (depending on progress with implementing the RESS policy), SEAI will commission the ‘second wave’ survey and analysis of the longitudinal study.

Download the report for more information on the design and results of the first wave national survey.
 

Total Project Costs to Date: € 155,240

Project Duration: 5 years

Year Funded: 2022

Lead Organisation: Indecon Economic Consultants (baseline survey and study design)

Download the key findings    Download key findings as Gaeilge

Key Findings (baseline survey)

In 2022, surveyors conducted in-person interviews on the doorstep across all of rural Ireland. They surveyed 1,764 households. This included 1,116 households within 5km of a new commercial wind or solar project sites, of which 219 live within 1km of a project site.

Wind Farms

People’s attitudes towards wind farms

  • 67%

    Positive
  • 18%

    Neutral
  • 12%

    Negative
  • 3%

    Don't know

“If I want, I can have a say in the planning process of a local wind project.”

(People who live within 1km)

  
Agree71
Disagree24
Don't know5

People who believe we have...

 Living next to (<1 km)Living near to (1-5 km)Living far from (>10 km)
Too few wind farms655265
Enough wind farms162413
Too many wind farms896
Don't know121516

Solar Farms

People’s attitudes towards solar farms

  • 81%

    Positive
  • 11%

    Neutral
  • 4%

    Negative
  • 4%

    Don't know

People who believe we have...

 Living next to (<1 km)Living near to (1-5 km)Living far from (>10 km)
Too few solar farms827779
Enough solar farms552
Too many solar farms111
Don't know131719

“If I want, I can have a say in the planning process of a local solar project.”

(People who live within 1km)

  
Agree69
Disagree17
Don't know15

Community Benefit Funds

People’s attitudes towards Community Benefit Funds

  • 78%

    Positive
  • 10%

    Neutral
  • 8%

    Negative
  • 4%

    Don't know

Every household within 1km of a new wind turbine will receive at least €1,000 annually. People who believe the payment...

 Living next to (<1 km)Living near to (1-5 km)Living far from (>10 km)
Should be more504547
Sounds about right342524
Should be less100
Is inappropriate81311
Don't know71718