TY - THES
TI - Assessing the Ecological and Social Impact of Wind Farms: A Comprehensive Study
AU - Rottbers, A
AB - Addressing climate change necessitates a shift towards sustainable energysystems, with wind farms emerging as vital renewable energy sources.However, the implementation raises concerns about ecological and socialeffects. This study examines the potential effects of onshore wind farms inSweden through a comparative analysis before and after their construction.Ecological impacts on birds and lepidopterans were assessed using aretrospective case-control study, while social effects were evaluated througha descriptive survey distributed to nearby residents.The results indicate no significant difference in bird or lepidopteranpopulations before and after wind farm construction. However, there wasconsiderable variation between wind farms on the effects on birds andlepidopterans. The perceived effects by residents correlate closely with theirattitudes towards wind energy, with negative attitudes associating withnegative perceived effects across all phases of wind farm development.Long-term investigations are warranted to comprehensively understandpotential impacts on avian and lepidopteran species, especially includinglocal conditions. Further, wind farm developers are advised to prioritizecommunity engagement and communication to foster positive attitudes andmitigate residents’ perceived impact.
DA - 2024/05//
PY - 2024
PB - Halmstad University
UR - https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1872712/FULLTEXT02.pdf
LA - English
M3 - Master's Thesis
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Land-Based Wind
KW - Avoidance
KW - Collision
KW - Birds
KW - Invertebrates
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Social & Economic Data
ER -