Workpackage 6: Socio-Economic Values and Responses
Summary
Leader: Dr Sandy Kerr (HWU/ICIT) and Professor Frank Rennie (LCC/UHI)
HWU staff wishing to collaborate: Professor Jonathan Side (ICIT); Professor Paul Jowitt (SISTech)
External staff wishing to engage: Professor Climis Davos (UCLA, USA), Dr Hance Smith (Cardiff, University of Wales), Professor David Whitmarsh (University of Portsmouth)
Overall Goal: To understand the potential socio-economic hurdles to the development of marine renewables and identify pathways to overcome these difficulties.
Introduction: One of the major challenges facing onshore renewable energy is public resistance, particularly in the case of large-scale onshore wind. This is manifest in challenges through the planning system, conflict with other land uses and discontent over the distribution of financial benefits. Marine energy development will be introduced into an environment with existing claims on space and resources (fisheries, navigation conservation etc). This WP seeks to explore these socio-economic issues in the marine sector before they become impediments to development.
Resourcing Estimate
Staff time plus 2 RAs (LCC and ICIT).