UCL Australia
Student Testimonial
"This course at UCL is one of its kind"
Events
24 April
UCL Australia Seminar Series
Wind Power in South Australia - from zero to 26 % in 10 years
Presentation by Adj A/Prof Monica Oliphant, Past President ISES and Nic Jacobson, Independent Consultant.
News
Professor Stefaan Simons presented at the Annual Meeting of the Four Societies (The Nuclear Engineering Panel of the Sydney Branch of Engineers Australia, The Australian Nuclear Association, The Royal Society of New South Wales and The Australian Institute of Energy) in Sydney.
The topic of his presentation was 'Going low carbon – the Approach of the International Energy Policy Institute'.
Contact
UCL Australia
Torrens Building
220 Victoria Square
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel: +61 8 8110 9960
Fax: +61 8 8212 3039
Research at UCL Australia
UCL School of Energy and Resources
At UCL Australia we focus on solutions to real-world problems. The UCL School of Energy and Resources is addressing energy provision, primarily, but not exclusively, electricity generation.
Mullard Space Science Laboratory
The Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) is a world-leading research organisation delivering a broad science programme that is underpinned by a strong capability in space science instrumentation, space-domain engineering, space medicine, systems engineering and project management.
International Energy Policy Institute
The International Energy Policy Institute (IEPI) was created to address key policy issues in the mineral, energy and resources industries through intensive and innovative research.
Research at the IEPI
Professor Stefaan Simons
Understanding ‘Local’ Opposition to Wind Energy Development in Australia: The Intertwining Link between Procedural and Distributional Justice, Health Concerns and the People
Nicoleta Raluca Dorobantu BA(Hons)
Project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSc (Energy and Resources), UCL School of Energy and Resources, Australia
Abstract
Over the past decade, wind energy has gained a
privileged status as governments’ preferred form of technology to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production. Starting from a
comparatively low base, Australia has consistently supported the development of
wind technology registering an average annual increase of 30%. This rapid
proliferation has led to opposition from a significantly vocal minority, and to
the creation of organisations lobbying against the further development of wind
farms. The main argument put forward has been the (scientifically unproven)
adverse health effects caused by wind turbines. This dissertation argues that
Australia represents a particular case in what concerns social acceptance of
wind farms, with various and potentially dangerous implications for the
achievement of renewable energy targets. This report is the result of an
extensive analysis of the 1014 submissions to the 2011 Senate Inquiry into the
Social and Economic Impacts of Wind Farms, as well as of a thorough examination
of the international academic literature on the topic. Through these tools,
this dissertation provides a timely and comprehensive explanation of the
reasons underpinning local opposition, relating it to the principles of
distributional and procedural justice, which are reflecting themselves into the
pervasive health concern. Using this framework, this dissertation calls for
immediate and tailored action from government and industry representatives. To
that effect, this dissertation provides a set of advice and recommendations
with their short and long term expected results.
Click here to view the full dissertation (PDF - 756Kb)
