Switzerland 2025

Wind In My BackYard  (WIMBY Project)      

The WIMBY project (EU Horizon, 2023–2025) examines how land-use constraints and public acceptance influence wind power deployment across Europe. The project combines energy system modelling, spatial analysis, and stakeholder engagement tools to assess the system-wide impacts of wind siting restrictions and to develop policy guidance for accelerating renewable deployment under the EU Green Deal. 

The analysis links the JRC-EU-TIMES model (PSI version) with the highRES-Europe power system model to assess how local wind siting constraints affect the EU-wide energy system under net-zero pathways. Scenarios combine different levels of societal and environmental restrictions derived from GIS-based spatial analysis, including biodiversity protection, landscape preservation, and proximity to settlements. 

Results show that stronger siting restrictions significantly reduce onshore wind deployment and can increase total system costs by up to 15% by 2050. Rapid wind expansion during the 2030–2040 electrification phase is identified as system-critical, as electricity demand grows sharply due to electrification of heating, transport, and industry. Restrictive land-use rules also increase cross-border dependencies and imports of electricity, hydrogen, and other energy carriers. 

The study highlights that wind deployment is a structural pillar of Europe’s decarbonisation strategy. Coordinated spatial planning, predictable permitting frameworks, and early stakeholder engagement are therefore essential to ensure socially acceptable renewable expansion while maintaining energy security. 

Model

JRC-EU-TIMES model (PSI version)

Policy impacts

  • Demonstrated that rapid onshore wind expansion is system-critical during the 2030–2040 electrification phase to avoid electricity shortages, rising increasing import dependence. 
  • Quantified the system cost impacts of restrictive wind siting rules, showing that fragmented land-use governance reduces feasible domestic wind potential and increases overall system costs. 
  • Showed that restrictive or fragmented land-use governance reduces feasible wind potential and increases overall system costs and import dependence. 
  • Provided evidence for harmonised spatial planning and early stakeholder engagement as key enablers of socially robust wind deployment. 
  • Informed discussions on harmonised spatial planning and accelerated permitting frameworks, supporting EU and national renewable deployment strategies under the Green Deal. 

 

Reference

WIMBY Project (2025). Deliverables and modelling dataset.  

WIMBY Project (2025). Open data and interactive platform: https://map.wimby.eu 

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