Where do we place solar farms and wind turbines? A new study shows the deciding factors, predicting where we will generate solar and wind power in the future.
Geographers Anna Bessin, Jordi Serra-Adroer, Niels Debonne and Jasper van Vliet investigated where large-scale solar farms (as ground cover, not on rooftops) and wind turbines are located in Europe. Their study was published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.
The researchers took several variables into account. On the one hand, biophysical factors, such as slope, altitude, wind speed and solar radiation, and on the other, socio-economic factors, such as distance to an electricity grid, subsidies and other policies. They used maps and spatial data to analyse the extent to which these factors determine the location of solar farms and wind turbines.
Solar radiation, wind speed and policies
The geographers found that since 2020, there has been 8.5 times more data on solar farms and 2.5 times more data on wind turbines. This is partly explained by rapid growth, and partly by better digital information. In addition, they saw that incoming solar radiation and wind speed are the most important factors for location. "This is good news," says Van Vliet, "because it means that solar farms and wind turbines are usually not developed in inefficient locations." Furthermore, they found that subsidies and policies play an important role in the siting of farms with solar panels or wind turbines. "It shows that policies can really have a positive impact on the energy transition, especially for solar farms."
The data also allowed the scientists to calculate where, under current conditions, solar farms and wind turbines are likely to be placed in the future. We can expect new solar farms in Hungary, the Czech Republic, the flatlands of southern and central Spain and Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and parts of Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. For new wind turbines, the researchers point to the coasts of France, Ireland, Denmark and Germany as promising areas.
Renewable energy in the future
Van Vliet: "There are currently still enough areas suitable to allow for the further growth of solar and wind energy. But some of these areas are already intensively used, for example for agriculture. Our research therefore also shows where potential conflicts could arise in the future. Given the expected increase in renewable energy sources, it is important to take this into account and ensure that solar farms and wind turbines are developed in places where it will not lead to much inconvenience."