Enhancing the resilience of wind energy infrastructure in Iowa: Flood risk assessment and site suitability analysis for critical infrastructure protection

As climate change increases the frequency and severity of hydrological hazards, understanding and reducing disaster risk to renewable energy infrastructure has become critical. Iowa, a national leader in wind energy generation, faces enhanced vulnerability due to the intersection of extensive wind turbine deployment and increasing flood risk. This study provides a comprehensive geospatial and statistical evaluation of flood exposure and site suitability for future installation of wind turbines across Iowa, using zonal statistics within buffer areas to evaluate spatial variation in elevation, soil drainage, flood depth, and mean wind profile. Correlation analysis reveals that turbine vulnerability is strongly linked to topographic variability (r ≈ 0.98), and soil characteristics (r ≈ 0.79), underscoring terrain as a key control on localized flood severity. Statewide results show that turbine exposure increases with spatial extent, from about 4% near turbine bases to over 60% at broader surroundings, underscoring the sensitivity of flood risk to buffer expansion and indicating that current siting practices may not sufficiently mitigate flood hazards. The research proposes targeted, data-driven recommendations for enhancing the resilience and continuity of wind generation as a vital component of the state’s energy infrastructure. These insights support policymakers, engineers, and stakeholders in devising proactive flood mitigation strategies, reinforcing the reliability and security of Iowa’s critical energy sector against evolving climate threats.