Investigators at University College Dublin Report Findings in Renewable Energy (Why Is Bottom-up More Acceptable Than Top-down? a Study On Collective Psychological Ownership and Place-technology Fit In the Irish Midlands).

This article focuses on research conducted in the Irish Midlands examining community acceptance of renewable energy governance approaches. The study compared top-down scenarios proposed by government and industry with bottom-up scenarios initiated by local community members, finding that bottom-up approaches received higher acceptance due to stronger collective psychological ownership and better perceived fit between place and technology. Funded by Science Foundation Ireland and peer-reviewed, the research suggests that bottom-up governance enhances community support for renewable energy projects by fostering a sense of ownership and alignment with local context. Further details are available through University College Dublin and the referenced journal article.