Quantifying public preferences for community-based renewable energy projects in South Korea

Under the new climate regime, renewable energy (RE) has received particular attention for mitigating the discharge of greenhouse gas. According to the third energy master plan in South Korea, by 2040, 30–35% of the energy demand must met with RE sources. To ensure relevant policy design to achieve this goal, it is crucial to analyze the public’s willingness to accept community-based RE projects. This study conducted a nationwide survey to understand the opinion of the public and also that of local inhabitants living near a RE project. A choice experiment was employed to measure public preferences toward RE projects. The analysis reveals that the type of energy source, distance to a residential area, and annual percentage incentives could affect acceptance levels. Additionally, investment levels were a factor in local inhabitants’ acceptance of energy-related projects. This study presents the relevant policy implications in accordance with the analysis results.