The cost of keeping wind turbines out of sight

A new study coordinated by scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich and published in Nature Communications highlights how the visibility of renewable energy installations—such as wind turbines and solar panels—has an impact on their level of public acceptance and the costs of the energy transition in Germany.

Many people do not wish to see renewable energy installations in their everyday lives. Wind turbines in particular are often seen as “eyesores.” However, they are essential for a climate-neutral future. The researchers therefore took a closer look at two factors for potential locations: scenic beauty and population density. Would it be possible to keep wind turbines and solar panels away from densely populated areas and particularly beautiful landscapes? And what costs would be involved?

“Beauty is subjective, of course,” says co-author Jann Weinand. “But how people assess the beauty of a landscape can be evaluated using surveys and statistical methods.” Such an evaluation was performed in a 2018 study. As part of the study, more than 3,500 people were asked to rate the beauty of landscapes in several hundred photos. “We used this evaluation as input for our study,” explains Weinand.

The second aspect the scientists looked at was population density. “The more densely populated an area is, the more people are affected by the impact of energy installations,” explains Weinand’s colleague Tsamara Tsani. “Balcony solar panels can of course be found in large cities, but larger solar installations are typically not possible. And wind turbines can usually only be found on the outskirts of large cities.”

Out of sight, but at what cost?

Using state-of-the-art mapping tools, the researchers analyzed from which locations in Germany potential future wind and solar power installations would be seen. They then simulated energy system plans in which these installations were not erected in locations where they could be visible from picturesque landscapes or busy cities.

The results showed that avoiding visibility only from the most beautiful or most populated areas had almost no impact on energy system costs. However, if wind turbines and ground-mounted solar installations were removed completely from view—including in the vicinity of small- and medium-sized towns and villages and less attractive landscapes, the costs in the energy sector could rise by up to 38% (€ 24 billion) per year by 2045.

“To compensate for this, the country would have to massively accelerate the expansion of solar installations on roofs and offshore wind farms—an ambitious task,” says Weinand. Imports of green hydrogen would also become necessary at an earlier stage, which would reduce the flexibility of the system and increase Germany’s dependence on other countries.

Balancing act between beauty and sustainability

In Germany, the expansion of renewable energy to date has rarely taken place in the vicinity of densely populated or particularly beautiful landscapes. This has either been a deliberate decision or due to the space available. “Only 3% of existing wind turbines are visible from the most beautiful areas, and only 2% of photovoltaic systems,” says Weinand. It is a similar situation in densely populated areas.

However, much of the renewable expansion is still to come. “This study provides policymakers with a tool for smarter planning,” says Weinand. “They can respect scenic areas and densely populated regions without placing an unnecessary financial burden on cities and municipalities—if they act strategically.”

What are the next steps?

The new method, known as “reverse viewshed analysis,” helps to identify “no-regret” zones—locations where energy installations can be built without spoiling the view of the landscape or disturbing residents. It can be adapted to other countries and used as a guide for cost-effective energy planning.

“As Germany pushes ahead with its climate targets for 2045,” says Weinand, “this study offers a roadmap for mastering the difficult balancing act between aesthetics, costs, and clean energy.”