Disinformation is holding back wind power in Czechia more than elsewhere in Europe, analysis warns

The spread of disinformation and falsehoods about wind energy is significantly hampering its further development, thereby making electricity more expensive, according to an analysis by the European association WindEurope, seen by the Czech News Agency (ČTK). While Czechia is not among the largest producers of such messages, their reach in the country is more pronounced compared with other European states. Politicians are the most effective at spreading disinformation, according to the analysis.

The analysis covered a total of 43,000 posts published on six major online platforms between May 2024 and February 2026. According to WindEurope, these posts generated around 6.3 million interactions and tens of millions of views. The posts mostly concern the alleged economic disadvantages, technological unreliability, or negative health and environmental impacts of wind energy.

According to the analysis, disinformation in practice contributes to delays or cancellations of wind projects worth billions of euros. The Czech Renewable Energy Association (Komora OZE) said the impacts are also apparent in Czechia. "While wind energy covers 20 percent of electricity consumption in Europe, in Czechia it currently accounts for around one percent. Concerns among some of the public about this technology are therefore understandable to a certain extent, as the state has long failed to explain or defend it systematically. The resulting space was then filled by distorted interpretations and disinformation," said the association's chairman, Štěpán Chalupa.