Comparing rural attitudes to solar PV farms and windfarms in the UK

Photovoltaic solar energy has the potential to be rolled out on a larger scale than is currently the case in most of the UK, in the form of solar farms. However, little research has been carried out into the ways such farms might affect relationships with rural environments, and whether they may have benefits over wind farms as they are less intrusive and produce less noise. A new scoping study will allow us to better understand this. This study will consist of:

• A review of existing relevant literature that theorises social relationships with the environment in relation to renewable energy
• a review of literature on policy, planning and technical issues associated with windfarms and solar farms
• the development of research methods and contacting project partners that could contribute to an ESRC research project on this theme.

In doing so the project will pursue several Sustainable Development Goals and pave the way to collaborate with industrial, governmental and social and environmental NGO stakeholders.