The geography of values and the land of energy

Abstract

This study provides a wind farm valuation/planning model, for territorial wind energy policies at a provincial scale. With reference to the case of territory of Syracuse, the pattern identifies the best layout of the plants under different conditions. The pattern, based on the integration of spatial-GIS and numeric calculation, provides a wide range of scenarios able to define a trade off energy/information function characterising the decision pattern of a whole land-energy policy. Energy function includes energy production and the consequent Net Present Value of each plant; Information function includes the visual impacts of each plant given the qualities and the distances of the areas, which the plant is visible from. The best layout maximizes the energy/information-value function.