The development of onshore wind power is controversial in Norway, and arouses strong emotions. Violations of indigenous people’s rights, danger to wildlife and consequences for the environment are some of the challenges facing the industry. But the electricity prices that Norway and Europe have experienced in the past year have made many people more positive about wind power. Now, researchers from a number of different professional environments have looked at where in the country one should invest in wind power, if nature is to be spared as much as possible. This has become a new report. It states that if the wind power is to move away from the living room windows and out of sight, there will be a greater strain on nature. Should be built close to people The report was first discussed by Forskning.no. – If the wind turbines are close to people, it leads to a negative effect on the people’s immediate environment. But for the conservation of wilderness and biodiversity it is better, says head of research Cathrine Hagem at SSB. The report is intended to shed light on what should be taken into account when deciding where wind power should be developed in this country. Senior researcher Cathrine Hagem at SSB. Photo: Studio Vest Previous studies have investigated how much people have been willing to pay to release wind turbines close to their homes. Based on these studies, the researchers have estimated the amount at around NOK 230 per household per turbine per year. The researchers behind the report have used this to calculate local environmental costs in the various areas. The more people near the wind turbines, the greater the cost to people’s local environment. Projects in the north most nature-friendly Hagem explains that they have taken as a starting point the applications for the construction of wind power that are in NVE’s database for licensing cases. Both those that are under consideration and those that have received approval but have not yet been built. The report does not say that Northern Norway is best suited for wind power, but that of the projects that have applied for a licence, the Northern Norwegian projects are the most gentle on nature. Some of the factors are carbon emissions, biodiversity and consideration for untouched wilderness. Opposition to wind power is strong among those who get involved. The feature is from 2020. – What we are saying in this report is that if you look at the applications that have either been approved or are being processed, the applications from northern Norway come out better, says Hagem. The reason is that the application areas cover wilderness and biological diversity to a lesser extent than others. They also have the least costs in connection with local environmental degradation because fewer people live near the wind turbines. The sum of the power production that the analyzed applications represent is 11 TWh. The researchers have taken as a starting point that applications for around 4 TWh must be approved, since there has been considerable opposition to wind power development. If you are to avoid all areas where domestic reindeer migrate, you will only be left with a small part of the potential for power development. – If you are not going to build in any place that overlaps with areas for domesticated reindeer, then there will not be more than 1.4 TWh that can be produced., And reindeer herding can affect where wind power will be invested in in the future. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled the wind power concession at Fosen in Trøndelag invalid. The state will just as fully continue operations. That is why they have produced the report Researchers from Statistics Norway, the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Menon and the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA) have contributed to the report. It has been created with the premise that wind power will be developed on land, and looks at how this can be located geographically to provide the greatest possible socio-economic benefit. The researchers write in the summary that onshore wind power can be expected to play a significant role in a low-emissions economy. The analysis assumed that 4 TWh of new wind power could be built. “When placing wind power plants, there should be a trade-off between the negative effects on natural values and profitability. Wind turbines negatively affect both the aesthetic value and the utility value of natural areas, which particularly affects those who live in the area, and the biological diversity and areas of untouched nature”. The latter has a value for society as a whole, the researchers write. In both parts, it is important to take account of a socio-economic analysis of wind power development. Read the full report by clicking on this link. No development in Western Norway There are currently two applications for the development of wind power on land in Western Norway that are being processed. One in Høyanger, and one in Modalen. In Eastern Norway, there is none. The report concludes that it will not be economically profitable to place any of the new wind power plants in these parts of the country. The wind power plant Fitjar in Vestland county. Photo: Siri Løken, news – We also look at the economic value of producing wind power. Where there are the best wind conditions and you can make the most from wind power, you should basically build first if environmental considerations are not taken into account, she points out. – But then when we add these environmental considerations, there will be a different distribution of wind power across the country. – Should be developed in the Oslo Fjord – The fact that a report sheds light on this type of approach is positive because it opens the door to debate. That’s what Stein Malkenes, former general manager of Motvind Norge, says. The organization works towards the development of onshore wind power in Norway. Today, he runs a company that deals with environmental consultancy in wind power matters aimed at municipalities. Malkenes points out, in line with Hagem, that nature conservation is only half the question when it comes to the development of wind power. The most important thing will be where you can actually produce the most energy. And if Norway as a hydropower nation needs wind power, he says. Stein Malkenes believes that no one wants wind turbines in their local environment. He also does not believe that the development of wind power will have a dampening effect on electricity prices to any particular extent. Photo: Ådne Sandvik Dyrnesli / news – Then it is obvious to say that you have to build in the Oslofjord, from Lindesnes upwards on both sides, he claims. – It is where people live, where there is a large demand for power, and where prices are high. But at the same time, there are also rich natural areas in these areas, he points out. “Not in my backyard” And where the fewest people live, there is of course the most nature left. It is simple logic, he believes. – If you want to use untouched nature as the basis for a report, then you just have to see where people live. Then of course you end up in the north where it is sparsely populated. Malkenes believes that wind power plants in the immediate area are unlikely to entice anyone to move north. Therefore, the wind power can affect local communities, he says. Warning beacon from marking against wind power from Kjøllefjord in Finnmark in October 2020 under the auspices of the organization Motvind Norge, of which Malkenes was previously general manager. This weekend they organized a new round of markings across the country. Photo: Olga Urgen / Motvind Norge – Of course, it is not smart to build a wind power plant in a municipality where you want to move in. He is also not surprised by the finding that it should be built close to people if nature is to be spared as much as possible. At the same time, he believes no one welcomes wind turbines in their area. – People don’t want this around them. It is the well-known “NIMBY effect”, says Malkenes.
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Wind power projects in Northern Norway are the most nature-friendly, according to researchers – news Troms and Finnmark
