Nonparametric statistical approach to wind farm siting in Poland using GIS.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Spatial Planning

Background:

• The global shift towards renewable energy sources necessitates optimizing wind farm development.
• Recent regulatory changes in Poland impact wind energy deployment strategies.
• Understanding the interplay of environmental and topographical factors is crucial for efficient wind farm siting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of environmental, topographical, and natural factors on wind farm operational parameters in Poland.
• To analyze spatial and technical variability across different wind farm sizes and turbine capacities.
• To provide data-driven insights for sustainable wind energy development and site selection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a comprehensive dataset of 2585 wind turbines across all Polish wind farms.
• Applied statistical analysis with grouping parameters: wind farm area (0-30 km²) and turbine power capacity (0-4 MW).
• Employed non-parametric statistical tests, including Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's post-hoc tests with FDR correction.

Main Results:

• Wind farm proximity to roads varied significantly with size, with larger farms being closer.
• Forest proximity showed complex relationships, with 10-15 km² farms closest and 5-10 km² farms most distant.
• Turbine capacity influenced distance to surface water, with higher capacity turbines located further away.
• Larger wind farms (25-30 km²) were unexpectedly closer to Natura 2000 areas compared to smaller ones.

Conclusions:

• Environmental and topographical factors exhibit a complex, non-linear influence on wind farm placement and operational parameters.
• Findings highlight the need for nuanced site selection strategies considering farm size, turbine capacity, and proximity to natural features.
• The study offers valuable insights for optimizing wind energy development in Poland, balancing energy needs with environmental considerations.