In this series of lunchtime webinars, we will explore four important dimensions of planning for renewable energy: siting challenges, community engagement, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and end-of-life decision making (repowering and decommissioning). In each session we will hear from three industry experts, with plenty of time for a panel Q and A. Through attending the webinars, we hope that planners both working in private and public practice will be able to update their knowledge on the latest thinking and opportunities for renewable energy planning.

The webinars will all take place online and will be chaired by Dr Rebecca Windemer, senior lecturer in Environmental Planning at UWE.

While considerations of community involvement will form an important element of all four discussions, in this webinar we will focus more deeply on how communities can be effectively engaged in the planning of renewable energy projects. We will hear from experts in community engagement to consider how diverse communities can be effectively engaged and involved in decision making. We will also consider how communities benefit from local renewable energy generation, looking beyond the use of community benefit funds to consider other forms of benefit such as ownership and decreased energy bills.