Synergies and trade-offs between biodiversity and social acceptance in the spatial allocation of wind power

The need to phase out fossil energy has promoted a rapid development of wind power, yet this development may negatively affect biodiversity and encounter resistance among local citizens. To study whether optimal locations for wind power differ when considering biodiversity impacts or social acceptance (in terms of distance to settlements), we used spatial suitability analysis for allocating wind power in Pirkanmaa region in southern Finland. First, we identified areas completely restricted from wind power using constraints based on legislative and authority guidelines. Second, we implemented two suitability analyses based on criteria weighted using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). For biodiversity-based suitability, we used multiple spatial datasets such as bird migration routes, biodiversity value of forests and distance to conservation areas, while acceptance-based suitability was based on distances to residential buildings and second homes. We clustered high-suitability areas using Anselin Local Moran’s I cluster analysis to find spatially contiguous areas for wind power. We compared the results of biodiversity-based and acceptance-based allocation in three scenarios for electricity production for the year 2035: scenario 1 corresponded the current production-consumption ratio in the region, scenario 2 electricity self-sufficiency, and scenario 3 the maximum production capacity. The most suitable areas for wind power were forested areas in the sparsely populated parts of the region. Optimal areas for biodiversity-based and acceptance-based suitability showed only partial overlap, suggesting trade-offs in wind power allocation. The overlap area increased from 0% in scenario 1 to 41% in scenario 3. Highly suitable areas based on both biodiversity and acceptance were not sufficient to cover the production capacity in scenario 2, indicating that reaching electricity self-sufficiency may not be possible without compromising biodiversity or citizen acceptance. The results highlight the importance of consideration of both biodiversity values and citizen acceptance in wind power development, as potential for land use conflicts is likely to increase with growing electricity demand in the future. The proposed method offers a framework to identify areas for wind power development where conflicts between biodiversity values and social acceptance can be minimized.