Community Collaboration: Enhancing Wind Farm Development through Collaborative Agreements
About this good practice
The practice in Allande, Asturias, aims to secure local community acceptance and participation in wind farm projects by introducing collaborative agreements for community benefits and revenue sharing on communal land.
Implemented by EDP in collaboration with local communities and authorities, it ensures tangible benefits through participatory planning, financial resources, and revenue sharing.
Key stakeholders include EDP, local authorities, and community members, with primary beneficiaries being the local communities. This approach fosters positive relationships, mitigates negative impacts, and enhances project sustainability.
The collaborative agreements model offers insights for improving community engagement in renewable energy projects, emphasizing the importance of incorporating community interests into planning and permitting.
EDP, namely EDPR is a private company, dedicated to energy that operates in Spain and internationally. In Asturias, EDP owns for onshore wind farms with a total capacity of 115MW. In Spain, have installed a total installed capacity of up 2.300 MW.
For the purpose of the BIOWIND project, FAEN has gathered in a report the main good Practices developed by wind promoters in the region.
The information provided by EDPR shows that the company implemented this GP from its beginnings in wind activity at regional level and that it has been replicating it in most of the wind farms it owns to date, when the location allows it.
Resources needed
Implementing this practice requires coordination between the wind farm developer, local authorities (City councils), and the community members. Resources needed include financial resources for land leasing or purchasing costs, as well as human resources for negotiating and managing agreements.
Evidence of success
The success of this practice is evidenced by the positive impact on both the local community and the wind farm developer. By sharing revenue and providing community benefits, such as maintaining and improving communal properties, the practice fosters positive relationships between stakeholders. Additionally, the practice ensures that wind farm installations consider and mitigate potential impacts on communal lands, enhancing social acceptance and project sustainability.
Potential for learning or transfer
This practice demonstrates a successful approach to engaging local communities in wind farm developments, which can serve as a model for other regions or countries. The collaborative agreements facilitate cooperation between developers and communities, leading to mutually beneficial outcomes. The practice highlights the importance of considering community interests and incorporating them into planning and permitting procedures for renewable energy projects.
The number of agreements signed by the company and the community as these agreements are private.
In Asturias, the communal lands are managed by a board selected among the local co-owners. In the form of an agreement among the local co-owners, a set of conditions are established for the exploitation of the lands and remuneration of the benefits generated by this exploitation. This has a direct economic impact in the territories considering that the revenues paid are directly transferred to the community.