The map depicts onshore density potential in megawatts per square kilometer for European countries. Source: University of Sussex/Aarhus University

The onshore wind power potential in Europe appears powerful, according to an international research team. A spatial analysis of geographical information system-based wind atlases reveals a nameplate capacity of 52.5 TW of untapped onshore wind power potential exists in Europe.

This capacity is equivalent to 1 MW per 16 European citizens and would be sufficient to satisfy global energy demand through 2050. About 46% of Europe’s landmass is theoretically suitable to support more than 11 million additional wind turbines. Sited on almost five million square kilometers, these units could produce 497 exajoules (EJ) of power, more than needed to meet the projected global energy demand in 2050 of 430 EJ.

Norway, Russia and Turkey are identified as countries with the greatest untapped potential, although large parts of western Europe also have major potential due to their high wind speeds and flat landscapes.

The study was conducted by researchers from Aarhus University (Denmark), Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S (Denmark), Imperial College (U.K.), Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne (France), Stanford University, University of Sussex (U.K.), RMIT University (Australia), Envision Energy CoE GmbH (Germany) and Envision Energy USA Ltd.