ABSTRACT

Governments, big business and communities are coming under increased pressure to develop low carbon energy supply technologies. Within the context of the climate change debate a delicate balance has to be reached between local environmental protection and our need for reliable low carbon energy.

This books brings together ten years of research conducted by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and uses a range of case studies from carbon capture and storage to on-shore wind farms to explore the complex nature of disputes between a wide variety of stakeholder groups. Topics covered include:

the importance of context

the relationship between risk and trust

sense of place

role of the media

An invaluable resource for researchers and readers in local or national government, industry or community groups who wish to deepen their understanding of controversy around low carbon technology and how to overcome it.

part |60 pages

Introduction and framing of low-carbon energy technologies

part |136 pages

Case studies exploring low-carbon energy technologies

chapter |29 pages

What have facts got to do with it anyway?

Competing knowledge claims in low-carbon energy controversy

chapter |18 pages

Energy siting governance

Social and political challenges associated with the development of low-carbon energy in the marine environment

chapter |19 pages

Microgeneration in the built environment

The multiple meanings of solar photovoltaic technologies

chapter |26 pages

Policy and regulatory controversy

The case of UK and EC biofuel policy

chapter |20 pages

Biofuel development in the UK

Regulatory and engineering visions beyond a changing controversy