This deliverable presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) model for evaluating the environmental impacts of onshore and offshore wind turbines across Europe, incorporating regional conditions. As identified in D2.7.a, an existing LCA model used to calculate environmental impacts from on- and offshore wind turbines is used in this work. The model enhances existing LCA approaches by integrating spatially refined parameters such as grid connection cable length, transportation distances, foundation types based on sea depth, and country specific datasets for installation, operation, and end-of-life phases. Using a functional unit of 1 kWh of electricity, the model is applied to turbines in France, Italy, Norway, Belgium, and Germany. Climate change impacts are assessed through statistical analysis, identifying capacity factors and turbine lifetime as key parameters. Additionally, a geographically differentiated life cycle impact assessment is developed, considering biodiversity impacts based on land use changes. The model has been optimized to reach high computational efficiency, enabling seamless integration into the WIMBY interactive map.
Pilot Sites