Posts by David Toke

Travel and accommodation expenses available (up to a quota number!)

A Public event to disseminate knowledge about the subject. It is a culmination of an ESRC funded project organised by the School of Social Science, University of Aberdeen

 September 9^th 2026

 Venue:  Chancellor's Hall, Senate House, University of London, Malet…

CFP: Ground-Mounted Solar PV and Planning for Renewable Energy

Symposium Date: Wednesday, 16th September 2026
Writing Workshop: Thursday, 17th September 2026
Location: University of Aberdeen, Scotland

We invite paper proposals for an academic symposium examining the planning, policy, and socio-spatial dimensions of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic development and broader…

'Planning and Solar Farms: A Front Line in Net Zero Disputes'?

Authors: David Toke, Costanza Concetti, Muhammad Mohsin Hussan, Paula Duffy, Jo Vergunst

weblink: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-923x.70031

Abstract: 

Solar power is rapidly increasing in importance as a source of UK renewable energy. However, planning applications for solar farms have emerged as a new…

Our key paper making a statistical analysis of influences on solar farm planning decisions at a local authority level has been published in the journal ‘Energy Research & Social Science’, Volume 120, February 2025, 103916.

The title, authors and abstract is here:

“Here comes the sun”: Determinants of solar farm…

We have submitted a Response to Consultation on Electricity Infrastructure Consenting in Scotland organised by the Scottish Government. Please see the full submission here.

We propose that planning applications for solar farms up to 150 MW  should be decided by the local planning authority (LPA), as is recommended for England.

This…