Toolkit

The WENDY toolkit serves as an online repository for all tools generated throughout the project. It complements the WENDY support services aimed at facilitating the development and operation of wind energy projects. The WENDY toolkit includes the following tools: WENDY toolbox, social acceptance interventions tool, Single multi-variable KPI.

 

Exciting developments are underway! Our WENDY tools are currently under development. Stay tuned for an enhanced experience coming soon!

 

Social Acceptance Interventions (SAI) tool

Under task 4.1 of the WENDY project, we have developed an evaluation methodology (Deliverable 4.1) and this online tool to present behavioural interventions and other recommendations to enhance social acceptance of wind energy projects. Various studies have employed behavioural insights and interventions to increase social acceptance of renewable energy projects. We conducted a comprehensive review and selected the best practices that have been tested and implemented in wind farm projects and communities across the world.

 

The SAI tool is a consolidation of best practices, interventions and strategies implemented to enhance acceptance or reduce opposition of wind farms across EU and various other countries (like UK, US, Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia). Based on specific filtering criteria, the tool will present a description of the recommendation, the geographical location (country) of implementation and the reference for further details. The online version will be developed in form of a Power BI dashboard/R Shiny App with the following sections:

  • Home page – the user will be presented with information about the WENDY project, the details about the WP4 (T4.1).

  • SAI tool page – the user will be presented with brief information about social acceptance, the aims of the tool and instructions for using the tool. The option to download recommendations from the tool can also be provided.

  • About page – the user will be provided with information about how the tool was developed, the consortium partners involved.

  • Contact page – the user will be provided with ways to connect with the tool developers (e.g., contact form, email) and the option to provide feedback, suggestions for improvement.

 

The SAI tool will be directed at wind energy project stakeholders, but also stakeholders of RE projects, in general. Such stakeholders would include:

  • Government (public authorities, local government, policy makers)

  • Wind (renewable) energy project developers

  • Wind farm operators

  • Wind farm owners (investors, shareholders)

  • Local community members (residents, associations)

  • Environmental sector (NGOs, interest groups)

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Explore the tool by clicking here: Social Acceptance Interventions (SAI) tool

 

Single multi-variable KPI

WENDY emphasises the importance of considering more than just the social-technical aspects of energy citizenship, towards energy stewardship from the integrated perspective of social-technical-ecological systems (STES). The project monitors and ranks potential influencing factors, both positive and negative, that affect the social and natural environment. These factors are categorized into three main groups: social, economic, and environmental. These inputs are used to create new models and references.

From these models, a single multi-variable KPI (sM-V.KPI) is created. This KPI is used to measure the welfare that a wind farm delivers to society utilising a single score that includes all these studied aspects. It enables the calculation of values across all of Europe using a turbine with an output of approximately 5 MW.

The tool will have two tabs. The first one will allow to select the location of the turbine. We can click on the map or fill the coordinates in the form. The Wendy symbol will mark the chosen location. In a blue polygon or circle we can see the location of the closest populated area, and with the camera symbol we can see the closest site of touristic interest. In the left form we must also select the ownership model (social, hybrid or corporate) and the wind turbine model.

 

In the second tab, we can visualize the results. Before the calculations are made, we can adjust the weights that we give to each one of the three dimensions (social, environmental and techno-economic). We click on the button ‘COMPUTE’ and the final results are shown in the right.

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WENDY toolbox

WENDY toolbox is a spatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis toolbox that integrates participatory approaches enhancing energy citizenship, validated models to map energy landscapes as well as best-practice options for environmental design in windfarms to support energy stewardship for sustainable development of wind energy. The roots of the platform definition are established based on existing tools (ConSite) to generate comprehensive decision criteria and to define the preferences database. The existing social-ecological modules of ConSite are used by NINA for the integration of the environmental module in WENDY toolbox. In addition, a techno-economic module is created by CIRCE based on wind characterisation and curtailments evaluation criteria to establish rules and guidelines for wind farms up to a capacity of 5 MW for this first beta version of the toolbox. The integration of the social, environmental, technical and economic modules optimises and promotes further uptake of the toolbox use in wind-power plant siting; aiming at locating sites with least conflict per GWh produced.

Key features of WENDY Toolbox:

  • Self-contained Module Rules: Tailored modules (technical, social, and environmental) offering flexibility and relevance for each unique project.

  • Consensus-based Siting Toolbox (ConSite): Project partners will operationalise ConSite, ensuring a collaborative and well-informed decision-making process.

  • Mapping and Weighing Criteria: Integration of outcomes from work packages to map and weigh multi-decision criteria, providing a holistic view for decision-makers.

  • Database and Interventional Recommendations: Outputs will form a database, offering interventional recommendations and fostering collaboration through the social module.

  • Life-cycle Ecosystem Service Approach: WENDY Toolbox goes beyond the norm by utilising a life-cycle ecosystem service approach to assess the total impact load in spatial planning. This spans from land-use plans to detailed plans for wind-power plant siting and associated infrastructure.

The WENDY Toolbox represents a leap forward in sustainable spatial planning for wind energy projects. By combining technical precision, social insights, and environmental considerations, it ensures responsible decision-making at every step.

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