Understanding coastal community attitudes towards the provision of offshore wind energy community benefit funds: an Irish case study

Ireland’s recent mandatory CBF introduction through the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), alongside mobilising the offshore wind industry, provides a timely case study to examine these complex issues. County Wicklow was chosen to study coastal community perceptions of offshore CBFs given the likely imminent development of two offshore wind farms off the coast.<br><br>This research aims to develop a holistic understanding of offshore CBFs perceptions across the three spheres of social acceptance: government, industry, and community.

Adopting a social constructionist approach enabled the exploration of not just why CBFs are utilised in the wind energy industry, but also how coastal communities view offshore CBFs. Initial insights into key CBF issues were gained through semi-structured interviews with representatives from the three spheres. Government and industry perceptions were further explored by analysing discursive practices relating to host communities and CBFs within energy policy.

Q-Methodology, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques, identified patterns of coastal community attitudes towards offshore CBFs using insights from their interviews. The case study reveals the heterogeneity of coastal community CBF perceptions, revealing four distinct viewpoints or Factors. Three Factors exhibit overall favourable CBF attitudes, albeit at varying positivity levels and founded on unique values, while one Factor revealed negativity towards offshore wind energy development and associated CBFs.

Key findings include evidence of (i) implicit power imbalances between the three acceptance spheres, (ii) the assumption by government and industry that CBFs increase community acceptance, and (iii) the need for extensive engagement with host communities to build trust and leave a positive CBF legacy. While it is crucial to build trust within communities, focusing on how CBF design influences acceptance without considering the wider power dynamics could be futile.<br>