Winds of change: Surfing prospects for offshore wind energy in coastal Spain (Cádiz)

Abstract

To accelerate the energy transition, Europe has adopted a strategy for deploy renewable energy onshore and offshore; however, in Spain, offshore wind energy has faced significant deployment challenges. This study aims to analyse whether public perception of offshore wind energy in the coastal areas of Tarifa and La Janda Litoral (Cádiz, Spain) has changed over the past decade. It also examines whether perceived impacts on local socioeconomic activities have influenced acceptance levels of that technology. The majority of respondents did not express a clear rejection or acceptance of offshore wind energy, with neutral or undecided responses accounting for 52 % of the sample in 2013 and 48 % in 2023. Nevertheless, the overall perception of this energy source improved over the decade: the proportion of positive responses rose from 24 % in 2013 to 33 % in 2023. Furthermore, most of the arguments against offshore wind energy projects weakened between 2013 and 2023. For example, the share of respondents who considered these projects incompatible with traditional uses of the sea fell from 46 % to 28 %, indicating a growing consensus on the possibility of reconciling offshore wind development with existing maritime activities. The study also highlights discrepancies between the views of local residents and those of stakeholders and media reports. Therefore, bottom-up strategies that involve the population from the earliest stages of planning can be key to achieving European energy policy goals.