The Political Economy of Opposition to Wind Energy Projects (ESR15)
Robert Wade
Project keywords: land ownership; rent; assetization; wind energy; political economy
This project explores the role of landownership and landowners in wind energy production. The relatively extensive spatial requirements of renewable energies like wind, solar and biomass situates the landowner as a central political and economic player in the low carbon transition. Drawing on political economy/political ecology, I examine the role of rent relations within the wind industry. I employ a comparative analysis of three European countries to explain the distributive and structural effects of private landownership in these different contexts. The research aims to understand how different systems of property rights can contribute to fair but rapid decarbonisation.
Robert's other research interests include philosophy of science (critical realism) and distributed generation/P2P energy systems.
Robert's supervisors
Professor Geraint Ellis
School of Natural and Built Environment
Queen’s University Belfast
Professor John Barry
School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics
Queen’s University Belfast
Dr Gerard Mullally
Lecturer
Department of Sociology
University College Cork