The overall objective of WinWind was to enhance the socially inclusive and environmentally sound market uptake of wind energy by increasing its social acceptance in 'wind energy scarce regions' (WESR). The specific objectives included screening, analyzing, discussing, replicating, testing, and disseminating feasible solutions to improve social acceptance and thereby facilitate the adoption of wind energy.

The project applied a multidisciplinary perspective to examine cases of WESR in Germany, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Norway, and Poland. These selected countries represented a variety of contexts, ranging from regions with large wind energy markets but with WESR to areas with very limited wind energy penetration.

WinWind analyzed the specific characteristics of regional and local communities, including socioeconomic, spatial, and environmental factors, as well as the reasons for slow market deployment in the selected target regions. In doing so, the project ensured that all individual and collective rights of indigenous people (as stated in Article 27 of the UN Human Rights Committee) were taken into consideration. The operational tasks of the project were carried out by national and regional stakeholder desks, which included project partners, market actors, and other relevant stakeholders in each participating country.

Best practices to overcome identified obstacles were assessed and, where feasible, transferred. The project had a special focus on novel informal and voluntary procedural participation measures, direct and indirect financial participation schemes, and benefit-sharing mechanisms. Finally, policy lessons with relevance across Europe were drawn, and recommendations were proposed.

The project started in October 2017. Coordinated by the Freie Universität Berlin – Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), it ran for 30 months until March 2020.