System impacts of wind energy developments: key research challenges and opportunities
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Wind power accounted for 8% of global electricity generation in 2023 and is one of the cheapest forms of low-carbon electricity. Although fully commercial, many challenges remain in achieving the required scale-up, relating to integrating wind farms into wider technical, economic, social, and natural systems. We review the main challenges, outline existing solutions, and propose future research needed to overcome existing problems. Although the techno-economic challenges of grid and market integration are seen as significant obstacles to scaling up wind power, the field is replete with solutions. In many countries, planning and permitting are immediate barriers to wind-power deployment; although solutions are emerging in the EU and several countries, the effectiveness and long-term acceptance of fast-track permissions and go-to areas remains to be seen. Environmental impacts on wildlife and recycling challenges are rising issues for which tested and scalable solutions are often still lacking, pointing to large remaining research requirements.
Date Issued
2025-01-15
Date Acceptance
2025-01-06
Citation
Joule, 2025, 9 (1)
ISSN
2542-4351
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
Joule
Volume
9
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
10.1016/j.joule.2024.11.016
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
101799
Date Publish Online
2025-01-13