Short answer
A Swedish survey from 2025 found that 92% of people living within three kilometres of wind turbines said they were fairly or very satisfied with where they live. This is almost identical to the Swedish population as a whole, where 91% reported being satisfied with their living environment. The findings suggest that, as a group, people living near existing wind farms are no less satisfied with their surroundings than other Swedes. At the same time, some individuals do experience negative impacts, and their experiences are also an important part of the overall picture.
Why is this discussed?
Common misconceptions
“Everyone living near wind power is negative about it”
Research does not support that view. In the 2025 Novus survey, 62% of respondents were positive towards wind power in their local area, while 29% were negative. More than seven in ten were positive towards wind power in general. Similar findings have been reported internationally. A Vattenfall study conducted in England in 2023, based on data from more than 2,000 respondents, found that people living close to wind turbines were, on average, more positive towards wind power than those living further away. This does not mean that everyone is positive, but it does show that opposition is not the dominant view among all nearby residents.
“People become more negative once wind farms are built”
The available evidence does not support that claim. In the Novus survey, 74% of respondents who had experienced the development of a new wind farm in their area said that their opinion of wind power had not changed. More respondents said they had become more positive than more negative after the wind farm was built. Several international studies have also shown that people often become accustomed to wind turbines over time, although experiences can vary between locations and individuals.
“Wind power does not affect anyone negatively”
That is not true either. In the Novus survey, 17% of respondents reported that their living environment had deteriorated since the wind farm was built. Some respondents reported negative impacts related to noise, visual changes to the landscape, or their experience of the natural environment. International research also shows that a minority of nearby residents may experience disturbance or dissatisfaction. Factors such as noise levels, landscape characteristics, the degree of local involvement and trust in the project developer can influence how people perceive a wind power project. For this reason, it is important to include both positive and negative experiences when discussing the impacts of wind power and how projects can be developed in the best possible way.
What do the facts say?
92% Are Satisfied With Where They Live
The most comprehensive Swedish survey to date was conducted by Novus in 2025 among 1,126 people living within three kilometres of wind turbines. The results show that 92% of respondents are satisfied with where they live and that 73% are positive towards wind power in general. Furthermore, 79% believe that their living environment has not changed since the wind farm was built, while 17% feel that their living environment has deteriorated.
Local Involvement Matters
Research shows that attitudes towards wind power are influenced by several factors. How the planning process is conducted, opportunities for local participation, and whether a project is perceived as fair are all factors that studies have linked to higher levels of acceptance of wind power.
Few Residents Are Disturbed by the Lillgrund Offshore Wind Farm
A survey of 150 homeowners living near the offshore wind farm outside Skanör, Klagshamn and Bunkeflostrand in southern Sweden found that 87% were not disturbed at all by the turbines. Lillgrund was commissioned in 2008, and the survey was conducted in 2022.
