Public Acceptance in Sustainable Grid Development: A New Approach

In the course of the transition from carbon extensive power generation to low carbon technologies, the electricity grid will face technical as well as non-technical challenges. Transmission systems are required to tackle the change from highly flexible, centralized generation technologies to fluctuating, unpredictable and decentralized power generation. The grid often needs to be extended to ensure security of supply. While the benefits of the projects affect the whole system, their social costs are local. This mismatch of costs and benefits is a source of conflict and requires new approaches to grid development.