Celia Robbins

As we shift away from large fossil-fuel power stations, power generation is no longer the preserve of a few big companies. Community groups can own wind turbines or solar farms, generating profit to help local services while they tackle CO₂ emissions. But community involvement does not guarantee local support, or a smooth path through the planning process. Most studies about contentious renewable energy projects have looked at private-sector schemes; my research will address what happens when there is disagreement within a community. I will look at different interpretations of what ‘community energy’ is and ask how people are affected by changes to places and landscapes arising from new ways of generating and managing power.