Wageningen University study shows 81% of residents support solar parks after participatory design; researchers find 79 deviations between permits and actual construction

Resident involvement

Dr. Enserink discovered that residents are often not sufficiently involved in the plans for new solar parks. This can lead to local resistance, especially if people feel that only technical and economic benefits are considered, and not their concerns and wishes. She emphasizes that the energy transition is at risk if policymakers remain solely focused on numbers and technology without involving the people living nearby.

Participatory design processes

A key part of her research was studying what would happen if residents could actively participate in the development of solar parks. This meant that people living near a planned solar park were involved in the design and planning from the beginning. For example, a full-scale prototype of a solar panel setup was developed together with residents (see photo). This prototype showed what the solar park could look like and gave residents the opportunity to give their opinions and suggest adjustments. This proved to be a great success: 81% of the participants wanted this solar park in their area.

Discrepancies in permit documents

Dr. Enserink also found that there are often significant differences between what is stated in the permit documents and what is actually built. She found 79 examples of spatial interventions in the constructed solar parks that deviated from the original plans. These differences were often caused by economic reasons such as the business case, ambiguities around permits, a lack of enforcement, and a lack of maintenance.

Recommendations

To address these issues, Enserink makes several recommendations. Among other things, she proposes that a clear vision for co-designed solar landscapes should be developed, balancing technological, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural objectives. "Policymakers should establish sharper definitions and binding criteria for environmental and socio-cultural objectives in permit and subsidy applications," says Enserink. She also believes it is essential to involve stakeholders early and inclusively in the design process so that their concerns and wishes are taken seriously.

Balancing stakeholder interests

Additionally, Enserink emphasizes the importance of better balancing the interests of different stakeholders in decision-making. Landscape architects should be given more mandate and opportunities to design solar parks as a whole within their contextual landscapes. Municipalities should conduct audits to check whether permit agreements are being adhered to, and feedback mechanisms should be established to implement lessons from current practice into future policy and development of solar landscapes. "Only by strengthening the exchange and communication between the involved actors and government layers can the sector improve by learning from various previous experiences."

Dr. Merel Enserink's research provides valuable insights and recommendations to improve the development of solar parks and ensure a sustainable energy transition. Her work highlights the need for an integrated approach that balances technological, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural objectives and promotes the participation of local communities. This not only leads to better solar parks but also to more support and satisfaction among the people living near these parks.