Truth, Trust, and Turbulence.

Disinformation about wind turbines and how to address it.

Wind energy is controversial. Despite its importance, efficiency, and necessity in the energy transition, many people remain resistant. They want their backyards free from “poison spinners,” untroubled by infrasound, and not littered with dead birds. Farmers may worry about the productivity of their dairy cows, sharing a field with wind turbines. While there are legitimate reasons to oppose wind energy, these particular fears are rooted in disinformation.

It’s okay to feel uneasy about wind turbines in your backyard. But frustration should be rooted in facts, not fears fuelled by false information. We are all part of the energy system. To preserve the lifestyle we value, we need a clean, decentralised energy infrastructure and wind energy is not the enemy. 

As someone with a background in communication, pursuing the Master Energy for Society at Entrance, this problem was exactly in my niche. In a time when facts have lost their potency, while wind energy is expanding, I was excited to work in an area that is deeply poignant, current and meaningful. 

Disinformation about wind turbines (claims that are false, misleading, or exaggerated, often spread with ill-intent) continues to circulate and influence public opinion. These narratives are persistent, emotional, and difficult to counter. So how can we take people’s concerns seriously while also challenging the falsehoods that fuel opposition? 

A Two-Part Approach

My research focuses on disinformation surrounding wind energy in the Netherlands, drawing some international comparisons. I set out to understand what false claims are being spread, how they affect wind park developers, and what the implications are for provincial and municipal authorities.

To get a full picture, I used a two-part methodology. First, I conducted qualitative interviews with ten experts involved in the industry:  wind park developers, civil servants, industry representatives, and researchers. From these conversations, I identified a series of disinformation narratives that shape their work and influence public opinion (some are named above).

During my interviews, I found that speaking with civil servants required particular sensitivity. Many were reluctant to go on record, not because they lacked insights, but because the topic of wind energy is politically charged and highly scrutinised. There was a real fear of being misquoted or taken out of context.

Interestingly, a German developer described facing far less public hostility than her Dutch counterparts. This contrast was echoed in media monitoring: Dutch sentiment about wind energy is much less positive.

Overall, there was a feeling that the conversation with residents had hardened, and conversation became more difficult. Through these interviews a scattered communication landscape where failure could lead to costly protests, delays or lawsuits  became apparent.

Next, I used the media monitoring tool Meltwater to analyse how these narratives circulate online. This quantitative analysis revealed a dynamic disinformation landscape: narratives rise and fall in response to media cycles, political developments, and public sentiment. Forexample: Following the Spanish power outage, worries about the role of renewables in destabilising the grid spiked.

Creating a Communication Toolkit

Ultimately my research resulted in a professional product aimed at facilitating interested parties in reacting to emerging and present disinformation, as well as anticipating situations where such narratives may arise. I combined multiple different frameworks into a guide specifically for wind energy. It advises monitoring to recognise trends, prebunking (pre-emptively spreading correct information), debunking using the truth sandwich method, and even when to stay silent.

Reflections and Predictions

This project was insightful on many levels. Interviewing a range of professionals helped me understand the real-world complexity of implementing the wind parks which are becoming omnipresent in our landscape.

In the turbulent world of the energy transition, where truth is often contested and trust is fragile, we need to invest not just in turbines, but in the people affected by them. That begins with honest dialogue, and tools that equip professionals to face falsehoods, staying respectful without falling silent.

A blog by: Kim Bechstein, Master student Energy for Society

Learning Communities bij Entrance

Bij Entrance en de Hanze werken we in Learning Communities (leergemeenschappen). Hier komen studenten, docent-onderzoekers en het werkveld bij elkaar samen.

De uniciteit van de leerervaring bij Entrance ligt in de multidisciplinaire benadering van onderzoek. Entrance biedt studenten, onderzoekers en het werkveld een rijke, inspirerende leer- en onderzoeksomgeving. In learning communities worden grote maatschappelijke vragen en opdrachten op het thema energietransitie, circulariteit en duurzaamheid, altijd vanuit verschillende perspectieven benaderd.

Studenten studeren af in het eigen vakgebied, maar niet zonder de onderzoeksvraag ook vanuit het perspectief van andere studenten, onderzoekers en werkveldvertegenwoordigers uit andere domeinen te hebben bekeken.

Meer weten over learning communities of heb je een maatschappelijke vraagstuk en wil je een potentiële samenwerking initiëren? Neem dan contact met ons op.