Wind power is critical for the energy transition, yet its expansion faces local resistance due to concerns such as visual impact, noise, and shadow flicker (SF). SF, caused by rotating turbine blades, has been associated with social and environmental impacts. Existing SF assessment tools are either simplistic or proprietary, limiting accessibility. This paper presents the WIMBY_SF tool, an open-source Python-based solution for SF simulation integrating python based geo-libraries, advanced shadow geometry transformation over complex terrain, and approximated turbine operation. It refines visibility constraints through viewshed analysis and accurately accounts for topographic influences. WIMBY_SF tool was validated against WindPRO using hypothetical turbine locations in Spain including areas with complex terrain. The SF-affected areas above 30 hours/year show strong agreement with WindPRO, with Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.907 (p-value < 0.01), demon-strating WIMBY_SF tool’s accuracy compared to the industrial standard. The WIMBY_SF tool, being open-source, enhances transparency and accessibility in SF assessments, supporting policymakers, developers, and the public for decision-making in wind power deployment.
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