This report describes the development and application of energy systems modelling across multiple spatial scales to generate a set of scenarios which quantitatively assess the system level implications of key local factors that shape wind power siting. At the macro-scale (European continent) this includes the further development, linking and application of two models, JRC-EU-TIMES and highRES-Europe, to assess these implications for Europe’s transition to net-zero. This is combined with a local or micro-scale modelling approach which is developed and applied to a case study for the Styria region of Austria, to capture details the former models cannot. Where possible we make a concerted effort to ensure model transparency and result reproducibility. Initial insights from the scenario modelling show that greater prioritisation of social and environmental protections in wind siting can lead to a vastly different role for onshore wind across Europe and systems that are potentially up to nearly 15% more costly in 2050. We demonstrate that the decade 2025-2035 is crucial for scaling up renewable deployment in the electricity supply to help decarbonise the demand and meet the intermediate climate change mitigation targets. Our micro-scale analysis highlights a clear trade-off between land availability and economic efficiency, where greater energy production potential may come at the expense of substantially higher infrastructure investment, depending on the scenario. The intention is that these scenarios are further analysed in WIMBY Deliverable 4.6.
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