Inclusive governance and social acceptance of renewable energy projects in Morocco: A quantitative study using multiple linear regression

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of social acceptance of renewable energy projects in Morocco. It addresses a theoretical and empirical gap: the framework linking social acceptance and inclusive governance, mostly applied in Europe and North America, remains rarely tested in Morocco and North Africa. The study uses a self-administered online questionnaire distributed through LinkedIn to 178 respondents. Twenty-five five-point Likert items measure five constructs. The analyses include internal consistency assessment, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and two multiple linear regressions with HC3 robust standard errors. The main model explains 9.2% of the variance in social acceptance. Transparency (β = 0.157; p = 0.043), institutional trust (β = 0.145; p = 0.038), and perceived socio-economic benefits (β = 0.191; p = 0.009) have positive effects, whereas inclusive governance has no significant direct effect (β = 0.017; p = 0.822). Additional tests detect neither a significant quadratic effect nor a significant interaction with transparency. The findings remain exploratory because of non-probability sampling, moderate internal consistency of the scales, and the model’s limited explanatory power. The study therefore distinguishes formal participation from effective territorial legitimation and highlights the importance of clear information, credible institutions, and visible local benefits.

JEL Classification: Q56, O13, Q01, M14.

Paper type: Empirical quantitative exploratory research.