Multi-level wind energy transition in the Turkish context: Socio-spatial sensitivities and nudging conditions

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2022-12-30
Demir, Başak
Renewable energy development claims a contribution to sustainable living within the context of climate change and locally emerging environmental degradation problems. However, some existing practices lead to public opposition. The socio-spatial consequences of wind energy development taking place in the form of high-tech mega wind turbines within large-scale wind farms create unsustainable conditions in societies. This, in turn, requires a shift in the way it is practiced. By adopting a sociotechnical perspective, the study explores the public opposition context of wind energy transition in the case of İzmir. Accordingly, it discovers that wind energy development in the Turkish context is a long, intricate, bureaucratic, top-down, and multi-actor process carried out solely as a licensing issue. To overcome this, the thesis suggests the adoption of an inclusive spatial planning system integrating local level niche solutions and responding to local sensitivities. Nudging theory may guide the construction of such a mechanism involving and constructively activating all actor groups at all levels while maintaining a fair development. Additionally, socio-spatially sensitive site selection criteria should also be developed. The study confirms that environmental, economic, sensory, and technological sensitivities exist in İzmir and shows that participants do not prefer wind farms in their vicinity, and natural life, noise, and number of wind turbines are the most salient sensitivities. Assuming that socio-spatial sensitivities co-exist by affecting each other, even only one area is salient at more than 1km indicates that wind farms should be located in a distance above 1km from settlements, natural and culturally valuable areas, socio-economic activity areas.

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Citation Formats
B. Demir, “Multi-level wind energy transition in the Turkish context: Socio-spatial sensitivities and nudging conditions,” Ph.D. - Doctoral Program, Middle East Technical University, 2022.