Multi-Dimensional Trade-Offs of Wind Energy in Europe's Net-Zero Electricity System

Wind energy infrastructure projects have increased in the last decade due to their low carbon emission impact, making wind energy a crucial element in Europe's transition to a net zero society. However, wind energy infrastructure has location-specific natural and social impacts. Opposition to wind energy deployment has increased across Europe, and in many countries threatens achieving climate targets. Despite this, a comprehensive, multi-dimensional analysis of these trade-offs is missing.  

Here, we address this gap by using an electricity system model at NUTS2 resolution, enhanced with novel spatial data on social (e.g. quantification of landscape senicness) and natural (e.g. bird and bat strikes) impacts. We explore how social and natural constraints impact the costs and design of future net-zero European electricity systems. Our findings allow policy makers and the public to make informed decisions on where to prioritise wind energy or other technologies.