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Greece can meet and even exceed its long-term wind energy targets without licensing new wind farms inside Natura 2000 protected areas or other undisturbed ecosystems, a new study shows.
The research by biologists Apostolis Stefanidis and Vassiliki Kati at the University of Ioannina found that excluding environmentally sensitive zones would still allow Greece to surpass its 2050 wind target of 13 gigawatts by about 30%.
Published in Biodiversity and Conservation, the study argues that biodiversity-focused spatial planning would not undermine renewable energy goals, countering concerns that stricter environmental rules could slow the energy transition.
The authors say alternative siting strategies could concentrate development in less sensitive areas while still accommodating strong investor interest in onshore wind.
