Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Grant Allan Author-X-Name-First: Grant Author-X-Name-Last: Allan Author-Email: grant.j.allan@strath.ac.uk Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde Author-Name: Graham Ault Author-X-Name-First: Graham Author-X-Name-Last: Ault Author-Email: Author-Workplace-Name: Institute for Energy and Environment, Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department, University of Strathclyde Author-Name: Peter McGregor Author-X-Name-First: Peter Author-X-Name-Last: McGregor Author-Email: p.mcgregor@strath.ac.uk Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde Author-Workplace-Name: Institute for Energy and Environment, Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department, University of Strathclyde Author-Name: Kim Swales Author-X-Name-First: Kim Author-X-Name-Last: Swales Author-Email: j.k.swales@strath.ac.uk Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde Title: The Importance of Revenue Sharing for the Local Economic Impacts of a Renewable Energy Project: A Social Accounting Matrix Approach Abstract: As demand for electricity from renewable energy sources grows, there is increasing interest, and public and financial support, for local communities to become involved in the development of renewable energy projects. In the UK, “Community Benefit” payments are the most common financial link between renewable energy projects and local communities. These are “goodwill” payments from the project developer for the community to spend as it wishes. However, if an ownership stake in the renewable energy project were possible, receipts to the local community would potentially be considerably higher. The local economic impacts of these receipts are difficult to quantify using traditional Input-Output techniques, but can be more appropriately handled within a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) framework where income flows between agents can be traced in detail. We use a SAM for the Shetland Islands to evaluate the potential local economic and employment impact of a large onshore wind energy project proposed for the Islands. Sensitivity analysis is used to show how the local impact varies with: the level of Community Benefit payments; the portion of intermediate inputs being sourced from within the local economy; and the level of any local community ownership of the project. By a substantial margin, local ownership confers the greatest economic impacts for the local community. Length: 76 pages Creation-Date: 2008-10 Revision-Date: Publication-Status: File-URL: http://www.strath.ac.uk/media/1newwebsite/departmentsubject/economics/research/researchdiscussionpapers/2008/08-11strathecon.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: Number: 08-11 Classification-JEL: Q42, R15, O18 Keywords: renewable energy; rural economic impacts; revenue sharing; community ownership Handle:RePEc:str:wpaper:0811