Study Reveals Disinformation on Wind Power Across Europe, with Sweden Most Affected

A study by WindEurope and CASM Technology analyzed more than 42,000 social media posts about wind energy across Europe from May 1, 2024, to February 28, 2026. 3 million active engagements such as likes and shares, along with tens of millions of views.

The analysis classified 68 percent of the sampled posts as containing disinformation or misinformation related to anti-wind narratives, with the remainder as non-disinformation oppositional content. Sweden accounted for the largest number of such posts, with nearly 7,000, followed by France, Norway, Finland, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

The UK had the highest level of engagements at over 419,000, while Sweden ranked seventh in engagements. The study defined misinformation as false or out-of-context information presented as fact, and disinformation as intentionally false content meant to deceive.

The report categorized disinformation and misinformation into four groups, including environmental destruction narratives that portray wind turbines as harmful to nature and wildlife. 8 percent of migratory birds avoided turbines. Another category involved technological unviability and economic failure, with over 8,000 posts describing wind turbines as destabilizing or linking them falsely to power blackouts.

In one instance, claims attributed a 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal to renewable energy, but a report by Europe's Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity stated that wind turbines were not among the root causes. The study also noted narratives framing wind projects as economically nonsensical.

Despite debunking, these posts have influenced public perceptions, with majorities in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland believing renewable transitions will raise household power prices, contrary to International Energy Agency findings.

2 percent, according to energy think tank Ember. This placed Sweden's emissions per capita below the EU average. The study described a network of actors from media, politics, civil society, and activists contributing to these narratives across Europe.

Researchers stated that such disinformation could delay Europe's shift to renewables, affecting economic competitiveness and energy security. In the United States, President Trump has implemented measures to halt offshore wind projects, citing national security risks.

The report highlighted that opposition often stems from false claims, and in extreme cases, disinformation has led to violent attacks on wind energy projects.