Interviews with citizens in four European towns were conducted by FIThydro partners to identify the public’s opinion in the region on run-of-river hydropower plants. The results, presented in the report D5.3, indicate a number of similar perspectives across study towns and highlight potential points of conflicts that might drive public debate against hydropower.
Interviewing citizens across Europe
The researchers conducted interviews with citizens in the case study towns Vila Real (Portugal), Toulouse (France), Landshut (Germany) and Örnsköldsvik (Sweden). These towns represent regions with very different geographical characteristics that pose particular challenges for operators seeking to modernise and develop hydropower.
For the preparation of the interviews, Q-methodology was used to identify the spectrum of opinions on hydropower. The method is rooted in both qualitative and quantitative research and provides a good way to systematically study subjectivity or opinions.
The citizens were asked to rank 25 opinion statements, representing a range of attitudes towards the modernization, expansion or conversion of hydropower facilities. Statements include, for example:
“It is important to me that hydropower creates jobs in the region (e.g. construction, maintenance, tourism)”
“I am concerned that hydropower disturbs natural habitats”
The participants, recruited at public spots in the four towns, ranked the statements according to how strong they agreed or disagreed with them and also gave their reasoning for this.
Conducting interviews in Landshut, Germany
The influence of location and age on opinions
In order to detect relations between opinions on hydropower and the variables age, gender, level of education, country, hydropower knowledge and purchase of green electricity, the researchers applied canonical correspondence analysis (CCA).
The analysis revealed that the country where the interview took place was the most important variable to explain differences in respondent’s agreement to the 25 statements used for the interview. Age also influenced the views on hydropower, whereas the remaining explanatory variables were less important in the analysis.
Similarities in perspectives
The results show that a number of similar opinion patterns exist in each case study region. This allows a grouping of the respondents into different types of perspectives or “world views”. Each perspective represents a different opinion, characterised by similar values and perceptions. The results reveal that similar perspectives, focusing on the same key issues, exist across the case study towns. These are:
- Hydropower is a climate-friendly energy source and a crucial component for an energy transition
- Hydropower (potentially) harms river ecosystems
- Local hydropower plants should bring benefits to the region, and/or should be operated by companies based in the country
Potential points of conflict
For more information, read the full report (download 1MB) on the public acceptance of hydropower.
Picture rights: © Holger Gerdes, Ecologic Institute