Energy Transition and Social Acceptability: From Research to Practice

Although renewable energy projects are crucial to the energy transition, they often face significant opposition, which can hinder their implementation and result in substantial financial losses and reputational harm. To prevent this situation, some organizations are now focusing on evaluating the social acceptability of their projects early on. However, they face a major obstacle: effectively assessing and measuring social acceptability. This communication explores how literature has addressed this challenge. After setting out the terms of the debate on measuring social acceptability, we provide an overview of research in this field, including the scope and methods favoured by researchers interested in measuring the social acceptability of renewable energy projects. Finally, we highlight the social acceptability factors attracting attention from renewable energy researchers.

Hydro-Québec’s action plan is ambitious. Between 150 and 200 additional TWh: that’s the amount of electricity Québec will need by 2050 for its energy transition to succeed. That’s almost two times our current capacity. To get there, we’ll need to generate more clean electricity while using it wisely. Given the large number of energy infrastructures to be deployed and the speed at which these projects must be implemented to meet Québec’s targets, social acceptability is a challenge. The presentation will explore this context and provide examples of approaches taken by Hydro-Québec to foster a favourable reception for projects in local communities.

This conference offers an in-depth reflection on the key factors that influence how communities perceive projects and on the methods used to assess this acceptability.

Drawing on concrete field experiences, the presentation highlights essential determinants: trust in project developers, process transparency, local economic benefits, consideration of environmental and social concerns, and the quality of relationships with stakeholders and Indigenous communities.

The conference will also address the tools and methodological approaches used to qualify or quantify social acceptability, such as surveys, referendums, longitudinal barometers, and preliminary territorial analyses, emphasizing their strengths and limitations. Finally, case studies will illustrate lessons learned from projects where co-construction and ongoing consultation either succeeded or failed in achieving a high level of community support.