Social acceptance of wind power in Finland : from technology favourability to benefit-based reasoning

Abstract

The study investigates how social acceptance of wind energy in Finland evolved from general technology favourability towards benefit-driven reasoning that shapes support for the country's target of being climate-neutral in 2050. The evolving attitudes towards wind energy support were observed across demographic variables by using five waves of the Eurobarometer survey (2006–2024) and the Finnish Energy survey (2024). Ordered Logistic regression models were estimated separately for each wave, followed by an integrated Acceptance Model (IAM) to trace long-term shifts in public support. The results show a clear transition in wind energy acceptance over the past two decades. The earlier survey evidence indicated broad technology favourability as a means of acceptance, whereas more recent Finnish studies and surveys (Finnish Energy, 2024; Special Eurobarometer 2024) show a shift toward benefit-based reasoning. Support for climate neutrality was assessed by an ordered logistic regression model by running the five IAM acceptance factors, from social science and interdisciplinary research, demonstrating (pseudo-R²= 0.344) the model’s overall fit. The five most relevant acceptance factors are: economic effects, impacts on residents and nature, attitudes towards the energy transition, trust, and the planning process, as well as social norms. The analysis identified two acceptance factors as key drivers of acceptance: economic impacts (OR = 3.10, p < 0.001) and environmental considerations (OR = 9.45, p < 0.001). The findings demonstrate that public attitudes influence clean-energy transition in Finland, not only by abstract support for the technology, but through concrete benefits linked to climate neutrality and energy transition. The Finnish policymakers should emphasize on tangible benefits of renewable energy, such as reasonable energy prices, self-sufficiency, and local economic value, through effective communication strategies. The current study is limited to a proxy approach and suggests that future research should establish Finnish longitudinal data of wind-energy acceptance among demographics, which captures regional diversity, and mechanisms of benefits more explicitly. Combining IAM factors with actual project contexts would provide more robust guidance for the planning, communication, and policy design related to Finland's ongoing clean-energy transition.