RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALLEVIATION
AND MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL CONFLICTS
RELATED TO ONSHORE WIND FARMS
Preliminary Analysis of the Dialogue Process in the
Controversial Wind Turbine Project in Nørrekær Enge,
Denmark
Leire Gorroño
WWEC2017
Nordic Folkecenter
[email protected]
Malmö
13 June 2017
DENMARK, WORLD LEADER IN
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND WIND POWER
• 5.6 million inhabitants
• 5,230 MW installed capacity
• 42% of the electricity
consumption in 2015, 37% in 2016
• Target: 50% by 2020
• 65% by 2035?
Introduction
NØRREKÆR ENGE II
NØRREKÆR ENGE I (2009)
13 wind turbines, 125 m, 2.3 MW each, 29.9 MW in total
Nørrekær Enge II could be the
largest wind turbine farm in
Denmark
NØRREKÆR ENGE I (2009) + NØRREKÆR ENGE II (visualisation)
+40 wind turbines, 150 m, 3.6 MW each, 144 MW
NØRREKÆR ENGE I (2009)
NØRREKÆR ENGE I (2009) + NØRREKÆR ENGE II (visualisation)
VESTHIMMERLAND
MUNICIPALITY
AALBORG
MUNICIPALITY
VATTENFALL
local
investors
land
owners
local
businesses
local
associations
LOCAL
COMMUNITY
local
school
close
neighbours
1,777 citizens within
4.5 km radius
The current wind
turbines produce
approx. 105 GWh/year.
Project area
The new 40 wind
turbines could produce
approx. 550 GWh/year.
Due to wind shadow,
the production of
existing wind turbines
could be reduced in 15
GWh/year.
Wind resources in Denmark
Medium high speeds at 100 m high
“The project proposal […] includes the
abandonment of housing in the area,
which has made it possible to expand the
existing wind farm. The demolition of
households will take place in Bollerup in
the centre of the (project) area, near
Kølby to the south and around Havgård to
the west.”
Non-technical summary of the EIA report, p. 4
(translated)
“Upon the abandonment of
properties, the city boundary in Kølby
will be moved to the south […]. The
households in the bought properties
are expected to be closed down and
buildings to be demolished or possibly
surrender to other purposes. Some of
the buildings in the area are expected
to continue for agricultural purposes.”
Non-technical summary of the EIA report, p. 6-7
(translated)
“19 households have been bought and others have got options to
be sold if the project is accomplished.”
Hans Henrik Henriksen, Political Head of the Environment and Technical
Department , Aalborg Municipality (27 April 2017)
“Vattenfall tears down a village and
erects wind turbines”
“The energy company has bought most of a North Jutland village and torn
houses down. Thus, the acidic neighbours are replaced by happy sellers.”
“The townhouses are being torn down
while the agricultural land is being
rented, and residents in the area are
well satisfied […]. They can now come
up with houses that are otherwise
difficult to sell. The municipalities are
also happy because the wind turbine
projects can be bigger and more
coherent in this way.”
“Vattenfall’s vandalism against a local
community”
“Wind turbines are a win-win situation
locally”
“The Swedish Vattenfall: ‘We are here to
grow and we will be very aggressive’ ”
“Researcher: Vattenfall's model does
not secure local support”
“It does not give local development, when energy companies manage
large wind farms”
“The enriched and the impoverished”
“THE VATTENFALL MODEL”
Vattenfall’s view
Community’s view
• 1,000 m distance to neighbours:
reduce disturbance
• 1,000 m distance to neighbours:
legal requirement regarding noise
limits
• Happy sellers and reduction of
abandoned properties
• Displaced families, local school
and local businesses in risk
• 46.5% of local ownership
• 46.5% of local ownership: 15%
owned by 2 farmers, 11.5%
owned by 6 unknown farmers,
20% offered to local inhabitants
at too high price
PRICE OF SHARES FOR LOCAL
RESIDENTS
Vattenfall’s offer
Initial price:
3,000 – 4,000 DKK/share
New price:
2,800 – 3,700 DKK/share
Market prices
2,500 – 2,900 DKK/share
(Lea Vangstrup, WindPeople, 16 Feb 2017)
Danish
Parliament
local
media
pension
funds
Danish
Energy
Ministry
national
VESTHIMMERLAND
MUNICIPALITY
international
AALBORG
MUNICIPALITY
VATTENFALL
local
investors
land
land owners
local owners
businesses
consumers
And many
others…
local
associations
LOCAL
COMMUNITY
RENEWABLE
ENERGY NGOs
local
school
Renewable
energy
companies
close
neighbours
Danish
citizens
researchers
What makes Nørrekær Enge different from other large onshore wind
turbines in Denmark? Why studying this case?
GRASS-ROOT INNOVATION
As a result of the gargantuan efforts of some
local individuals, the local community has
decided not to oppose to the wind turbines ‘per
se’, but to enter in a constructive dialogue with
Vattenfall and the two Municipalities to adapt
the initial project idea to the needs of the
community
CONDITIONS FOR LOCAL SUPPORT TO
THE PROJECT
1. 20% community ownership, i.e. owned by a
local foundation that reinvest the profits from
running the wind turbines in local development
projects
2. Less wind turbines, preferably 20
ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT
DIALOGUE
??
Land rent contracts
2013
Municipal wind turbine planning; approx. 270
signatures are collected against it; Nørrekæe Enge
and other areas are assigned for wind development
2014
Vattenfall presents application for 37 wind turbines in
Nørrekær Enge; some local farmers also submit
applications ( one for 3 wind turbines and another for
7 wind turbines)
Oct-Nov
2014
Sept
2015
2015 2016
Pre-hearing
”Vin med vind” workshops in Løgstør: 1 with school
children and 1 with adults. Nordic Folkecenter explained
the benefits and opportunities for community wind
Local conflicts within the local community increase
and separate the community
Kirsten, local artist and one of the grass-root movement initiators, explains
the workshop done with school children in Løgstør to students and
researchers from Aalborg University.
27 April 2017
“I’ve been for renewable energy all my life. Suddenly I found myself being
against. Facing this personal conflict, I decided to phone Preben to ask for
advice”.
Finn, local artist and one of the grass-root movement initiators.
27 April 2017
WindPeople starts to assist the local group working
for community wind
Aug
2016
Local meeting. 80 people including 7 politicians and the
mayor of Vesthimmerland Municipality.
Conclusion: ”wind turbines are fine, but we want
community ownership and less wind turbines”
From door to door to explain the idea and ask for
membership to the association
Meetings with Vattenfall and the Municipalities
Mar
2017
Vattenfall and the local farmers submit a common project
application for 40 wind turbines
The local wind turbine association completes budget estimations
for investment
Apr
2017
The local wind turbine association raises 0.5 billion DKK
from Danish pension funds
Rejection of the application to the Energy Ministry
May
2017
Agreement among Vattenfall, the 2 Municipalities and the
local association
Political approval of the EIA
Jun
2017
Jun - Aug
2017
Public meeting
Public hearing
Oct - Nov
Final approval??
2017
PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS
• Community owned projects, where the purpose is the common good of
the entire local community
• Smaller wind projects
• Plots where no or very few households would have to be demolished
(according to Energinet.dk, there are 1,000 of these in DK)
• Improved understanding of the local situation and community dynamics in
order to avoid counter-productive communication
• Improved understanding of the social impacts of the wind project and
application of actions for mitigation
• Integration of community power
• Raised awareness about community power, its benefits and existing
opportunities
• Support to local communities by providing guidance from independent
experts
Thank you for your attention!
Leire Gorroño
[email protected]
Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy
www.folkecenter.net
Nordisk Folkecenter