arXiv subjects

Christian Mikovits

Publications and source records attributed to Christian Mikovits.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The electricity system value of the local acceptance of onshore wind in Europe

The large-scale deployment of wind power is central to Europe`s energy transition but faces challenges due to its social and environmental impacts on communities. Here we assess how the tolerance of local stakeholders to such impacts translates across spatial scales to shape the cost and design of the continent`s net-zero electricity system using a soft-linked modelling framework. We find that lower impact tolerance can reduce the role of onshore wind in Europe reaching net-zero by up to 84% relative to a future where wind enjoys higher acceptance, with other low carbon sources needing to be scaled up to compensate. This translates into total European electricity system costs increasing by between 2-14% while some countries see costs escalating by 20% or more. Our results show that the local acceptance of onshore wind is a key structural driver of the system and highlight the system value of policies to promote it.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2020

The Cost of Undisturbed Landscapes

By 2030 Austria aims to meet 100% of its electricity demand from domestic renewable sources, with most of the additional generation coming from wind and solar energy. Apart from the benefit of reducing CO2 emissions and, potentially, system cost, wind power is associated with negative impacts at the local level, such as interference with landscape aesthetics. Some of these impacts might be avoided by using alternative renewable energy technologies. Thus, we quantify the opportunity cost of wind power versus its best feasible alternative solar photovoltaics, using the power system model medea. Our findings suggest that the cost of undisturbed landscapes is considerable, particularly when solar PV is mainly realized on roof-tops. Under a wide range of assumptions, the opportunity cost of wind power is high enough to allow for significant compensation of the ones affected by local, negative wind turbine externalities.

econ.GN↗