Energy Resource Management in the Strategic Planning of Regions in Slovakia: Wind Energy Dimension

The transition towards a low-carbon and energy-secure economy makes effective energy resource management an increasingly important component of strategic regional planning. In this context, the development of renewable energy sources, including wind energy, can contribute not only to decarbonisation but also to the sustainable economic development, energy security, and competitiveness of regions. This issue is particularly relevant for Slovakia, where the potential of wind energy remains largely underutilised despite the country’s commitments to increase the share of renewable energy sources and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The slow development of wind energy is associated with administrative and permitting procedures, regulatory and institutional constraints, spatial planning challenges, environmental and social considerations, and insufficient integration of renewable energy development into regional strategic planning. The aim of the study is to assess the role of wind energy resource management in the strategic planning and sustainable development of regions in Slovakia, identify the main barriers limiting its effective integration into regional energy systems, and formulate recommendations for improving regional and national approaches to wind energy development. The study analyses relevant strategic and policy documents concerning the Slovak electricity sector and renewable energy development, examines the current state of wind energy development, and considers the planned trajectories for increasing wind power capacity towards 2030 and the longer-term decarbonisation objectives. The results indicate that the limited development of wind energy in Slovakia cannot be explained solely by the availability of technical potential. Institutional fragmentation, lengthy permitting procedures, spatial and environmental constraints, limited regional coordination, and insufficient integration of energy considerations into regional development planning represent significant barriers. The study also demonstrates that more effective management of wind energy resources can support regional energy security, diversification of energy supplies, local economic development, and progress towards decarbonisation. The study concludes that accelerating wind energy development in Slovakia requires closer integration of energy resource management with regional strategic planning. Strengthening institutional coordination, simplifying permitting procedures, improving spatial planning mechanisms, and establishing clearer regional and national development frameworks could facilitate the sustainable utilisation of wind energy potential and contribute to the long-term development of Slovak regions.