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Regional economic and environmental impacts of wind power developments: A case study of a German region

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  • Jenniches, Simon
  • Worrell, Ernst
  • Fumagalli, Elena

Abstract

Wind power is an important technology in the transition towards a low carbon economy. This paper covers the regional impacts of wind power developments in a small German region. Wind power developments with a cumulative capacity of 63.1 MW which have been installed in 2017 in the Aachen region, generating 3901 GWh electricity from 2017 to 2037 lead to a regional value added of €50.8 million (or €805/kW). The avoided greenhouse gas emissions are 132,770 tCO2-equivalents in 2017 and the total economic impacts of value added, avoided greenhouse gases and air pollution ranging from €20.9 to €24.6 million (€332–389 per kW or €107–126 per MWh electricity generated) in 2017. From an environmental economic view, the generation of wind power is the most beneficial electricity generation technology in comparison to PV and lignite.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenniches, Simon & Worrell, Ernst & Fumagalli, Elena, 2019. "Regional economic and environmental impacts of wind power developments: A case study of a German region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 499-514.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:132:y:2019:i:c:p:499-514
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.05.046
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    Cited by:

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    3. Thomas Hoppe & Michiel Miedema, 2020. "A Governance Approach to Regional Energy Transition: Meaning, Conceptualization and Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-28, January.
    4. Pratiwi, Astu Sam & Trutnevyte, Evelina, 2022. "Decision paths to reduce costs and increase economic impact of geothermal district heating in Geneva, Switzerland," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    5. Kiunke, Theresa & Gemignani, Natalia & Malheiro, Pedro & Brudermann, Thomas, 2022. "Key factors influencing onshore wind energy development: A case study from the German North Sea region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    6. Christian Lutz & Lisa Becker & Andreas Kemmler, 2021. "Socioeconomic Effects of Ambitious Climate Mitigation Policies in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, June.

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