RESS Community Impacts Research
Project Description
This SEAI research project 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. Such an evaluation is a requirement from the European Commission which approved the state aid provided through RESS on condition of a rigorous evaluation of the overall socio-economic impact of the RESS. This study fulfils one component of the overall socio-economic impact evaluation. In doing so it also provides original and valuable longitudinal socio-demographic and attitudinal data on the effects of the national energy transition on those households closest to new renewable energy infrastructure.
The study will employ a difference-in-difference approach to achieve its objective. In 2022, SEAI, 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 GaeilgeIn 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.
"If I want, I can have a say in the planning process of a local wind project."
(People who live within 1km)
| Agree | 71 |
|---|---|
| Disagree | 24 |
| Don't know | 5 |
People who believe we have...
| Living next to (<1 km) | Living near to (1-5 km) | Living far from (>10 km) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Too few wind farms | 65 | 52 | 65 |
| Enough wind farms | 16 | 24 | 13 |
| Too many wind farms | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| Don't know | 12 | 15 | 16 |
People who believe we have...
| Living next to (<1 km) | Living near to (1-5 km) | Living far from (>10 km) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Too few solar farms | 82 | 77 | 79 |
| Enough solar farms | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Too many solar farms | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Don't know | 13 | 17 | 19 |