Wind power deployment and the impact of spatial planning policies

Spatio-environmental externalities of renewable energy deployment are mainly managed through spatial planning policies, like regional expansion goals, zoning designated areas, or setback distances. We provide a quantitative analysis of how effectively spatial planning policies can steer RES deployment, using the example of onshore wind power expansion in Germany. Based on a novel georeferenced dataset of wind turbines and spatial planning policies, we use a dynamic panel data model to explain yearly additions in wind power capacities. Most importantly, we find a strong positive impact of zoning specific land areas for wind power deployment. An additional square kilometer of designated area leads to an increase of 4.6% of yearly capacity additions per county. Not only the amount of designated area matters, but also the size and shape of each individual designated area. Small and elongated areas are, on average, associated with more wind power expansion than large and compact areas. Moreover, we find that in states with an expansion goal, capacity additions are 2.6% higher. In contrast, increasing the setback distance between turbine sites and settlements by 100 m is associated with reductions of yearly capacity additions by about 3.1%. Our findings show that policymakers can resort to spatial planning instruments in order to effectively arrange wind power deployment with other land uses.