PLANNING AND ENGAGEMENT ARENAS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY LANDSCAPES

Project Information

PEARLS

Grant agreement ID: 778039

DOI

10.3030/778039

Project closed

EC signature date 10 November 2017

Start date 1 July 2018

End date 31 December 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 405 000,00

EU contribution

€ 405 000,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PEARLS (PLANNING AND ENGAGEMENT ARENAS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY LANDSCAPES)

Reporting period: 2020-07-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

- What is the issue being addressed?

The goal of the Energy Challenge is to reinforce public engagement in support of renewable energies. Renewable energy and energy behaviour are the two points of energy policy that underpin the Social Science approach to bringing change to the energy model. The EU’s commitment to a low-carbon economy turns the spotlight on renewable energy landscapes as many of these are large-scale projects introducing changes in the relationship between people and their landscapes. In sharp contrast to some of the analysed cases in Central and Northern Europe, where large numbers of people oppose renewable energy landscapes, in Southern European countries there is widespread acceptance of renewable energy landscapes. Recognition of this divergence to showcase the value of citizens’ acceptance of these landscapes in Southern European countries ad Israel is at the root of the PEARLS Project.

- Why is it important for society?

An overarching approach to the implementation of renewable energy landscapes and the prominence to the population’s role in promoting renewable energies are facts before to the Energy Transition challenge. To reach these, research concepts (renewable energy landscapes; public participation; a sense of place; place attachment; cultural and regional differences and collective aspirations) and formulae for public participation in spatial planning and as actors in social innovation are needed.
It is important to support the reformulation of the current energy system as a more citizen-oriented system, putting society’s issues and/or concerns at the top of the list of priorities.
Other important premise is that renewable energy implementation must overcome current obstacles to change in energy consumption models. So, an analysis of the relationships between people and their acceptance of renewable energy landscapes is essential to cement people’s commitment to the Pan-European Energy Challenge.

- What are the overall objectives?

PEARLS’ main objective is to contribute to the acceptance of renewable energy landscapes through the formulation of participative and sustainable energy policies. The project enhances the development of researchers’ and technical personnel’s research and innovation capacities and/or abilities through staff exchange and collaborative research combining social and technological aspects of the energy challenge. PEARLS is designed as a Southern European and Israeli instrument for renewable energy landscape good practices to the rest of the world. A second objective is to give a boost to the social dimension of renewable energy landscapes by implementing spatial planning and social innovation-based methodological and analytical strategies. The transfer of knowledge to citizens by scientific institutions and companies is key from the Social Sciences focus.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The Project works via secondments, staff exchange and collaborative enquiry. 40 secondees who completed a total of 89 secondments that were allocated for the project. Twenty-five projected deliverables correspond to the various milestones of the seven work packages. All the deliverables have been completed on their due dates. For milestones, the deadlines were met although the months changed due to the suspension of the project due COVID-19 epidemic.

The PEARLS’ website has a vitally important dissemination platform through its different sections offering information about the activities that researchers have to carry out during their secondments. A Semantic Map, Key Terms and pre-WP Research Reports are publicly available on the website. Project Leaflets providing general information have been translated into six languages and are also available on the website. The online atlas compiled by the research team includes study cases: 10 in Portugal, 4 in Italy, 3 in Spain, 3 in Greece and 3 in Israel. Furthermore, another website resource is the Web-GIS platform implemented as WP4 final result.

The publications that have emerged throughout the project by all participants. 11 scientific papers, a book chapter, 3 other publications in progress and/or under review and lastly, 3 papers in progress. Conferences and workshops included 2 presentations, 6 conference proceedings, 10 communications and 7 presentations delivered, as well as the organisation of national and international seminars. Research results are being published on books, book chapters and scientific journals such as Energy Research & Social Science, Energies, Sustainability, TEMA and PH Journal. Other publications under review have been sent to Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management and Tirant Humanidades. Further papers will be published on Applied Geography and a Sustainability Special Issue.
Proceedings and communications has been taken on international and trans-disciplinary events like Eighth International Conference on Remote Sensing and Geoinformation of the Environment (Cyprus, Greece); XXXIV International Geographical Congress (Turkey); 4S Annual Meeting (Canada); 5th Energy & Society Conference and 4th International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions (Italy); ESA RN Midterm Conference and XI Congresso Português de Sociologia (Portugal).
During the project’s life, consortium members have applied to 5 research and transfer knowledge projects led by research centres and companies. Other publications, communication activities and networking represent new outputs for the future.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

PEARLS’ reach and contribution to the enhancement of EU research, innovation and knowledge transfer structures has being achieved through the execution of secondments and the research objectives. The generation of new channels of communication between society, researchers and companies using everyday formats is a mandatory impact for PEARLS. The project is producing evidence-based training materials on social innovation and public engagement tools for use in renewable energy development. New trans-methodological approaches to social and technological issues are others project outcome to strengthen the population’s commitment to secure, clean and efficient energy.

The results have had meaningful effects that enhance scientific, innovation, societal and market impact. Project results provide clear and measurable benefits for companies’ innovate. Through technologies and processes, a comprehensive framework has been provided based on the involvement of stakeholders and society against climate change supported by renewable energy landscapes quality. Some examples developed by companies are: the promotion of energy cooperatives and energy communities; energy certification of buildings; the use of geographic information technologies for the implementation of renewable energy installations; and the consideration of the landscape in territorial planning, which have all have been gaining prominence in daily work. These actions are being developed in parallel with the EU's energy policy on climate change, recent geopolitical crises (especially the emergency actions taken after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine) and in line with the European Green Deal.

Project way of life after the COVID-19

Wind peaks, REL, Guadalhorce reservoir, Málaga, Spain, March 2022

Wind mills as olive tree branch, REL, Macedonia region, Greece, July 2019

Solar haze, REL, Ashalim thermo-solar plant, Negev desert, Israel, April 2019

Solar lighthouse, Gemasolar thermo-solar plant, Fuentes de Andalucía, Seville, Spain, December 2019

Saturation of windmills, REL, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain, February 2022

Wind giants, Ashalim thermo-solar plant, REL, Negev desert, Israel, April 2019

Wind as power resource, Ma’ale Gilboa kibutz, Israel, July 2019

Solar slopes and wind peaks, REL, Alcoutim, Portugal, 2019

Wind mills on the neighborhood, REL, Vejer, Cádiz, Spain, April 2021