SolarNIMBY: Perceptions and willingness to accept large solar farms in rural areas
Year: 2026
Type: report
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Portugal is rapidly expanding utility scale photovoltaic farms to meet national and European Union climate targets. Drawing on a systematic literature review and a field survey of 610 residents across eleven major regions, this study examined the social acceptance of large solar energy projects in rural Portugal. Respondents were predominantly long-term residents, with more than three quarters having lived in their area for over thirty years, which demonstrates strong place attachment and extensive local knowledge. Our findings reveal a paradox of acceptance. Although there was widespread criticism of planning processes, particularly regarding the lack of opportunities for participation, limited possibilities to voice concerns, and insufficient involvement of municipal authorities, almost half of respondents indicated that they would authorize the construction of a solar park near their area of residence. About forty percent expressed opposition and around fifteen percent were undecided. This suggests that acceptance is not a matter of simple support or rejection but rather a form of conditional approval in which substantive support for renewable energy coexists with dissatisfaction about governance and procedural practices. Our analysis highlights four themes that structure community responses: i) A participatory paradox, whereby communities express strong criticism of procedures but remain open to project outcomes when these align with local priorities. ii) Economic development emerges as a highly salient consideration, but it coexists with strong environmental concern and governance-related expectations. iii) The politics of scale, since support declines as project size increases while smaller scale or integrated solutions such as agrivoltaics enjoy higher levels of acceptance. iv) Rural agency, as communities demonstrate informed and critical evaluation frameworks that cannot be dismissed under simplistic notions of opposition. Trust also emerges as a decisive factor. Academic researchers and civil protection agencies are regarded as the most credible sources of information, while energy companies and national level political actors are viewed with scepticism. Looking ahead, residents expressed clear preferences for process improvements. These include limiting the scale of projects, strengthening opportunities for public participation, improving communication and transparency, and promoting land use integrated approaches such as agrivoltaics. We conclude that Portugal enjoys a unique window of opportunity. Rural communities remain open to renewable energy development, but their support is conditional on more meaningful governance arrangements. Addressing issues of procedural justice and embedding local participation into planning processes will be essential to prevent conditional acceptance from turning into entrenched opposition. By acting at this stage, Portugal can sustain its momentum in renewable energy while ensuring that rural communities are partners rather than adversaries in the energy transition.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7160445282