Site Identification Analysis for AWE Devices. A case study in The Netherlands

The report analyzes site suitability for Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) in the Netherlands under the DEM-AWE project using GIS and publicly available data. Key criteria include slope, operational radius, proximity to settlements, and airspace constraints. Sensitivity analyses assessed the impact of varying parameters on land availability.

While the Netherlands’ high population density limits large-scale AWE deployment compared to countries like Ireland and Germany, the base case identified more than 1,200 sites and up to 2,800 devices, supporting 2–4 GW of AWE capacity. In total, 590–1,270 km² of operational area was identified. Friesland, Groningen, and Flevoland emerged as the most suitable regions due to their flat terrain. The study highlights the importance of developer-specific optimizations and improved datasets for more precise analysis.