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Social acceptance of wind and solar power in the Brazilian electricity system

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Abstract

Renewable energy is often associated with the production of clean electricity and free of significant adverse impacts. However, several studies have been highlighting the importance of the assessment of social impacts of these technologies, including not only the benefits but also the potential negative aspects most frequently affecting local population. The energy matrix in Brazil is already built up on a renewable system largely supported on hydropower but other technologies with special emphasis on wind power start to have a major role, with a strong growth forecasted for this sector in the coming years. This article discusses the integration of solar and wind power in the Brazilian electricity system focusing on the social awareness and acceptance for the population living in high potential regions. For this, a questionnaire was proposed with the aim of evaluating the level of knowledge of wind and solar power, their social acceptance and perceptions towards cost, local development and environmental impacts. The questionnaire was implemented in an academic institution in the State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) including students and professors as key actors for the present and future energy policy decision making. The implementation process and the obtained results are described allowing to conclude on the high level of acceptance of solar and wind power in the country and the region, with low evidence of not in my backyard syndrome.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of ALGORITMI research Centre at University of Minho. This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013. The authors are grateful to the Rectory of Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN) who allowed for the implementation of the survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN), Campus Natal Central, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 1559, Tirol, Natal, RN, CEP 59.015-000, Brazil

    Lunardo Alves de Sena

  2. ALGORITMI Research Centre, Universidade do Minho, Campus Azurém, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal

    Paula Ferreira & Ana Cristina Braga

Authors
  1. Lunardo Alves de Sena
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  2. Paula Ferreira
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  3. Ana Cristina Braga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paula Ferreira.

Annex: Questionnaire

Annex: Questionnaire

The questionnaire was divided in six sections. The respondent is firstly asked to characterize his/her socio-demographic conditions and his/her situation in IFRN. The questionnaire is then divided in two similar parts, one addressing wind power and the other one addressing solar power.

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de Sena, L.A., Ferreira, P. & Braga, A.C. Social acceptance of wind and solar power in the Brazilian electricity system. Environ Dev Sustain 18, 1457–1476 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-016-9772-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-016-9772-0

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