The problematic relationship between wind energy and the landscape

In Spain, wind energy has an installed power of 2 7.4 GW, making it the main distributed renewable generation technology. Its contribution to decarbonisation is relevant: last year it produced just over 54 000 GWh of energy, 22 % of total electricity output. There is no doubt of its value and necessity. But wind power is not free of undesirable side effects. One of them, the most obvious, is its visual impact on the environment, a disturbing effect on the landscape that reaches up to kilometres away in the influence areas of the sites. Society is becoming aware of these problems, which may be magnified in the coming years as a result of the increasing growth of wind farms across the country. © 2021 Colegio de Ingenieros de Caminos Canales y Puertos. All rights reserved.