ID: 2018
Presenting Author: Marius Costin Nistorescu
Session: 550 - (Re)building trust and transparency to navigate complex energy transitions
Status: pending
Drawing on three Romanian case studies, the paper defines a minimum transparency threshold needed to build stakeholder trust in renewable energy impact assessment.
Romania is currently experiencing a second surge of renewable energy development, driven by European decarbonization targets and national recovery funding. Wind and solar projects are rapidly transforming rural and coastal areas, but this expansion unfolds amid persistent public distrust and misinformation. The topic has even entered the presidential debates, reflecting how politicized and polarized energy transition discourse has become.
This paper explores whether there is a minimum transparency threshold (the essential level of disclosure, accessibility, and timing of information) required to sustain stakeholder trust in renewable energy development. The analysis draws on three recent Romanian case studies involving two solar parks and one wind farm at different stages of permitting and public consultation. Findings reveal that fragmented disclosure from authorities and developers fuels public uncertainty and resistance, especially when cumulative impacts and the planning of acceleration zones for renewables are not addressed.
A practical framework is proposed for defining transparency thresholds in environmental impact assessment (EIA) and communication processes, focusing on completeness, accessibility, and context sensitivity. While grounded in Romania, the conclusions reflect broader challenges of rebuilding trust in renewable energy transitions across emerging European markets.
Dr. Marius Nistorescu, Founder and CEO at EPC Environmental Consultancy, Romania. 26 years’ experience, including 18 in renewables. PhD in Ecology. Specialist in SEA & EIA.
Coauthor 1: Alexandra Doba
Coauthor 2: Octavian Matei