This week, WIMBY will be hosting interactive workshops in Styria, Austria, from October 21st to 24th, marking another exciting chapter in our wind energy exploration journey. These workshops will take place in two different municipalities within the Styrian Ennstal region, bringing together local stakeholders, laypeople, experts, and even groups of pupils to dive into the world of wind energy development.
The Ennstal as one of WIMBBY pilot sites offers significant wind power potential, particularly in its mountainous areas. Located in the alpine climate zone and hosting a diverse landscape including high altitude ranges, forests, and scenic ridges, the region is a perfect setting for discussing the future of wind energy deployment in scenic touristic recreational areas with a high ecological value.
During the workshops, participants will engage with our innovative 3D VR tools, which provide a hands-on experience in wind farm planning. The immersive approach allows the local community to visualise turbine placements and better understand the complex factors surrounding wind energy. Similar to our workshops in Pantelleria, the goals for Styria include:
- Identifying and evaluating potential zones for wind farm installations, taking into account environmental, societal, and economic factors.
- Developing a conceptual plan for the placement and sizing of wind turbines suitable for Styria’s unique landscape.
- Exploring strategies to balance renewable energy growth with the preservation of the region’s scenic value and wildlife habitats.
- Encouraging dialogue and collaboration between stakeholders to support sustainable wind energy projects in the area.
We will also focus on engaging pupils in the process. Like in Pantelleria, we will be involving pupils from local schools in role-playing exercises and fun games designed to help them interact with the wind energy tools and explore their own ideas about energy and sustainability. These workshops will provide pupils with an educational and enjoyable experience, while also gathering valuable input from the next generation.
The workshops will foster community involvement and aim to encourage a collaborative approach to wind energy development. Through local participation, we hope to gain insights into how wind energy can be harmoniously integrated into alpine landscapes while addressing environmental protection zones and wildlife considerations. The feedback and opinions gathered during the workshops will be crucial to continue with WIMBY research.
In addition to the interactive workshops, other activities such as stakeholder interviews, the creation of metal models for wind energy and a multi-criteria satisfactory analysis in the form of an online survey are also taking place.
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