On March 26–27, the JustWind4All Consortium Meeting that took place in Slovenia, brought together leading experts and stakeholders to discuss the future of wind energy, with a focus on co-production, community engagement, and innovative technologies like Airborne Wind Energy. Among the highlights was the critical role played by Airborne Wind Europe (AWEU) in advancing AWE and fostering dialogue among communities, developers, and policymakers.
AWE represents a transformative leap in renewable energy by tapping into high-altitude winds with minimal material use, making it an efficient and scalable solution. However, as highlighted during the meeting, the success of AWE deployment depends not only on technical breakthroughs but also on effective community engagement and awareness-building.
During the Consortium Meeting, AWEU presented key efforts undertaken through our AWE Wind Lab, which focuses on best practices for AWE deployment and stakeholder engagement. This includes workshops, interviews, and dialogue opportunities, fostering trust and understanding among local communities.
A recent event at the future AWE test site in Ketzin, Germany, showcased these efforts, with over 50 participants engaging in a marketplace-style setup to learn about the benefits and implementation plans for AWE technology. The positive feedback underscored the importance of clear, accessible information in building public support for pioneering renewable energy technologies.
Challenges and opportunities for AWE deployment
While AWE continues to gain traction, the meeting emphasised several challenges:
- Awareness and communication: Misconceptions about AWE persist, and many companies lack the resources to address both technical development and social acceptance simultaneously.
- Stakeholder outreach: Reaching all relevant groups, particularly in hard-to-engage sectors, remains an ongoing effort.
Despite these challenges, the meeting also highlighted opportunities to strengthen AWE deployment:
- Community engagement: Developers were encouraged to prioritise stakeholder involvement, even for pilot projects, as early engagement can yield long-term benefits.
- Policy support: Regulatory sandboxes were recommended to accelerate AWE projects by allowing innovative technologies to be tested in real-world conditions.
Key takeaways for Airborne Wind Europe
The JustWind4All meeting reinforced AWEU’s mission to champion AWE as a critical component of the renewable energy mix. As a representative body, AWEU’s efforts are pivotal in:
- Bridging the gap between developers, communities, and policymakers.
- Advocating for policy frameworks that enable faster deployment of AWE projects.
- Sharing best practices and lessons learned across regions to strengthen collective progress.