Understanding the complexities of wind energy development in Australia and New Zealand

The growth of the wind energy sector in Australia and New Zealand has occurred as part of a broader shift away from high-emissions energy generation to renewable, or low-emissions, sources. As the pressures of climate change, population growth, and demand for energy are expected to increase into the future, the role of wind energy in the energy-mix is likely to continue to grow. Wind energy generation, however, can be a contentious issue. The technical complexities of optimal turbine siting and capacity for energy production are compounded by social and political tensions, making the issue a wicked problem.

In both Australia and New Zealand, wind energy contributes approximately 5 per cent toward the nations’ total generated energy. Despite this relatively small contribution to the energy mix, the issue of wind energy generation is prominent in the climate and energy discourses. Certainly in the media, wind energy developments are often described as divisive issues with high social costs to host communities and risks to the proponents’ reputation and ongoing social licence to operate. Feared impacts on wildlife, particularly charismatic birds, cause controversy and outrage. Meanwhile, community-owned wind energy developments are gaining favour as a means to empower communities in terms of both local decision-making power and action to address climate change.

In order for Australia and New Zealand to adapt to a changing energy environment in the face of climate change, an understanding of the complexities of wind energy generation is needed. This special issue of the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management aims to address this need by collating perspectives from researchers and practitioners across the social and technical dimensions of wind energy.

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

• Perspectives on the policy environment for wind energy in Australia and New Zealand
• The renewable vs non-renewable energy equation in NZ and Australia (or by state/region)
• The social impacts of wind energy development, and solutions
• The environmental impacts of wind energy development, and solutions
• The economics of wind energy development
• Studies on the political and news media discourse on wind energy development
• Future projections for wind energy development in Australia and New Zealand
• Best practice in planning for wind energy developments
• Advancements to wind energy technology and processes
• Comparative studies between Australia and New Zealand

We especially encourage practitioners and those with perspectives on New Zealand to contribute to this special issue.

Submission Process

Papers will be reviewed following the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management (AJEM) double-blind review process. Expressions of interest to publish, along with an abstract, should be submitted to the guest editors, Rebecca Colvin and Ian Boothroyd, by 20 February 2018.

Following acceptance of the EOI and abstract, full papers should be submitted by 30 August 2018 by online submission to the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management Scholar One Manuscripts. Papers should be prepared using the AJEM Guidelines. The guest editors welcome informal enquiries related to proposed topics.

Contact Ian Boothroyd → 

Contact Rebecca Colvin →