Economic, social, environmental, and institutional factors shaping onshore wind LCOE in Europe: Evidence from spatial panel models


KARA Ö., ACAROĞLU H.

ENERGY POLICY, cilt.220, 2027 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 220
  • Basım Tarihi: 2027
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115652
  • Dergi Adı: ENERGY POLICY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Compendex, EconLit, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, INSPEC, Public Affairs Index, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Business Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
  • Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

We investigate how macro-level factors-economic, social, environmental, and institutional-shape the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for onshore wind energy in Europe over time, while accounting for spatial dependence. Using a balanced annual panel of 10 OECD European countries from 2011 to 2023, we estimate a Spatial Durbin Model with two-way fixed effects, which receives the strongest overall support among the non-spatial and spa tial models considered. By decomposing total impacts into direct and indirect impacts, we find that macro-level factors are associated with LCOE through domestic and spatial spillover channels. Stronger economic and institu tional performance is associated with lower LCOE through both channels, with spatial spillovers larger than the corresponding direct impacts. Higher emission intensity is associated with higher LCOE through both channels, whereas higher human development is associated with higher LCOE primarily through the domestic channel. Among the control variables, the association with LCOE is negative for cumulative onshore wind electricity gen eration and cumulative wind energy patents, but positive for renewable electricity generation share. Overall, our findings highlight cross-country spatial dependence and suggest that onshore wind energy cost-reduction policies in Europe should consider regional coordination rather than focusing exclusively on national conditions.