PhD position in spatially explicit assessment of impacts of wind power deployment (0.8 - 1.0 FTE)

While wind power is one of the fastest growing, most mature and cost-competitive renewable energy technologies, its deployment faces significant challenges due to low acceptance amongst societal actors. Factors such as restrictive regulation, disinformation, misinformation and concerns about changes to scenic landscapes, negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems and health impede the spread of new wind power installations. A consortium of 16 institutions across Europe has put together the Horizon Europe project WIMBY, "Wind in My Backyard." The goal of the project is to increase acceptance, counterbalance "Not in my backyard" (NIMBY) effects and foster support for wind power. Thereby the project enables its contribution to the decarbonization strategy of the EU, using holistic modelling tools to advance social awareness and engagement on large wind power installations in the EU. The project translates the results of cutting-edge in-depth models to assess impacts, conflicts, synergies and potentials for development of wind power into practical information for stakeholders. WIMBY follows a citizens' science approach for dissemination supported through a Web-GIS interactive forum that improves upon the content and functionality
of the New European Wind Atlas.
In the context of this project, the group of Energy & Resources of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University is looking for a PhD candidate for a fully funded four-years position under the supervision of Dr. Luis Ramirez Camargo and Prof. Madeleine Gibescu. The tasks are as follows:

• Supporting multiple spatially explicit impact assessments of wind power. These will be performed in high resolution for four selected case studies in Austria, Italy, Portugal and Norway and in a lower resolution for the European scale. The assessments include impacts such as job creation, and light and shadows impacts of wind turbines on populated areas but the researcher is welcome to be involved in other technical, economic, social or ecological assessments (based on background and interest).
• Developing the data back end of the project's Web-GIS interactive forum while ensuring that all generated and provided spatially explicit data and metadata are aligned with INSPIRE technical guidelines (INSPIRE Directive 2007/2/EC) and fulfill the FAIR principles. The process includes the selection of formats that provide the best compromise between wide use, storage size, performance, and suitability to homogenize the results of all assessments in the project.
• Contributing to the assessment of synergies and trade-offs between diverse aspects of wind energy considered in the project. These should lead to a concrete set of recommendations to foster wind power aimed at researchers, planners and policymakers.

While the tasks in WIMBY have to be completed as they are proposed, you will have the opportunity to decide where you would like to put the emphasis for your PhD thesis (depending on your background and interests). The options can be developed in close cooperation with particular experts in the project consortium. The options include research related to social, legal, ecological, and land/sea-use impacts of wind power deployment as well as modelling and optimization of energy systems ranging from individual wind parks to the integration of wind power at the continental level.