Satellite images reveal major discrepancies between mapped and operating wind turbines in a hotspot of wind energy development

Abstract

Wind energy is an emerging challenge for biodiversity conservation, due to its impacts on habitats and species. Therefore, effective mitigation and zonation policies require accurate maps of operating wind turbines. However, the current pace of wind energy development raises doubts on how fast existing maps can become obsolete. We used freely available satellite imagery from Google to check the extent to which three open-source datasets about wind turbines in Sardinia (Italy), were still valid in 2023. These were a wind turbine dataset validated by Smeraldo et al. (2020) through satellite imagery, as well as Atlaimpianti and OpenStreetMap, two commonly used open-source datasets. We recorded 1,155 turbines in our study area, a value that was larger than that reported by Smeraldo et al. (n = 914) and much higher than that reported on Open Street Map (n = 766) and Atlaimpianti (n = 507). Moreover, based on projects submitted to the Italian Ministry of the environment, Sardinia could face the construction of 1,026 new onshore turbines over the next few years, an 88.8% increase. Our findings reveal that, wherever wind energy is expanding fast, like in the Mediterranean area, maps of existing infrastructures might be seriously biased. This bias could arise from either from partial coverage and the lack of data updates. Checking and validating existing maps should therefore be a priority for environmental agencies. Moreover, satellite imagery could pave the way for participatory mapping initiatives focusing on biodiversity hotspots.