A lot of people may not be pleased by reading this article, as I
have tried to put to bed a lot of the myths surrounding wind energy.
Wind energy is here to stay, but fortunately, technology has a long way
to go to really grasp the full potential of this truly renewable energy
source, and a balanced argument can often be difficult without proper
analysis of the facts.
They say 'ignorance is bliss' but if you want to put forward a powerful case for or against a proposed wind farm development, you have got to be able to see the project from both sides of the fence. This article sets out to provide a balanced view between what is assumed, and what is known, about this highly competitive form of renewable energy, and what is needed to make the industry more acceptable to people all too often branded as 'Nimby's' by people who should know better.
What this split of attitudes has done, is because media platforms have to compete in a progressively more fragmented marketplace, creating a narrative that has an easily identifiable cause célèbre - in this case, wind turbines - helps attract fierce debate, thereby driving circulation and, increasingly, online traffic. On the reverse side, keen proponents of wind power are sometimes too quick to dismiss any problems raised, levelling the charge of 'nimby' at any concerned group who voice a protest over planned developments. While not wilfully dishonest, both sides of the debate can be accused of colouring their opposing arguments to further their point of view by stirring up all levels of human emotions.
Clearly, there is a need to address the concerns of local communities when a wind farm is being built; but, the community should be engaged from the start so that the pros and cons of local developments are fully discussed. The dismissing of the problem by regulators and the energy industry as 'nimbyism' reveals that a 'barrier-oriented' view prevails. This can leave residents feeling disenfranchised and unable to control their own landscape.. Balanced dialogue and direct community involvement to redress perceived inequities are needed if renewables are to realise their aims of a far greater spread of wind power across all countries where wind is in constant supply.
It is becoming more and more prevalent that wind farms offer a flexible, modular system that if implemented as a diversified resource with effective nationwide spread can offer a reliable source of low-carbon energy, with virtually free resource, forming a core part of a mixed renewables portfolio in combination with a reduced platform of responsive conventional capacity. In particular, when compared with nuclear fuel, although the operating costs may be about the same, the size of the carbon footprint with nuclear is horrendous, when one takes into account the construction costs, the processing of the raw uranium, the perceived security issues, and of course, the draconian de-commissioning costs.
Now, given the UK government projections that onshore wind will become the cheapest way to generate electricity by 2020, it will remain a crucial component of the UK's renewable strategy, so whatever approach is taken, wind power is on a committed expansion across the UK.
If you look at the common objections to wind farms (see list below), you may find this useful in trying to put some considered opinions both for and against wind power. In many cases though, developers will quote from certain web sites, and as there is so much conflicting information for and against wind farms, you will have to carry out a lot of research on the topic yourself, and draw your own conclusions. In many cases, it becomes quite plain that wind power holds the key to one of the most prolific renewable energy sources in the UK, and may other countries around the world. However, what has not been demonstrated yet, is a technology that can actually convert this massive free renewable energy efficiently and effectively into electrical energy.
For every web site promoting the merits of wind turbines, an equal amount cast the opposite view. If the people on these sites can have many opposing views, how is the man in the street - or indeed, a developer - going to know the actual truth?
If you look at the following list, you will find the areas that cause most concern from both sides of the argument.
Only by getting your own facts together on every of the following points can you even begin to build up your argument, for or against the proposal.
The way forward is not, in my opinion, on the continued installation of more bigger and bigger turbines (HAWTs), because this will not only wreck the environment, create a massive carbon footprint of its own in the construction, despoil the landscape, cause the most vociferous objections, and also promulgate the totally inefficient manner (less than 25%) in which wind energy is captured and converted to green electricity. This then has the detrimental effect of delaying or even postponing the eventual acceptance and widespread implementation of this highly efficient and highly desirable free energy source that should be providing us with much lower energy bills.
The more turbines that are distributed across the whole country, the greater the chance that wind capture is stabilised at any one point in time, smoothing out energy levels. By developing a family of turbines that are unobtrusive, far more efficient (greater than 50%), with energy outputs far greater per hectare than their giant HAWT cousins, our energy bills will be lowered, objections decimated, and the threat of daily energy blackouts totally avoided.
There is no question about the need for wind energy, or its importance to the economy or environment. However, only technology improvements can hold the key to its successful adoption.
They say 'ignorance is bliss' but if you want to put forward a powerful case for or against a proposed wind farm development, you have got to be able to see the project from both sides of the fence. This article sets out to provide a balanced view between what is assumed, and what is known, about this highly competitive form of renewable energy, and what is needed to make the industry more acceptable to people all too often branded as 'Nimby's' by people who should know better.
What this split of attitudes has done, is because media platforms have to compete in a progressively more fragmented marketplace, creating a narrative that has an easily identifiable cause célèbre - in this case, wind turbines - helps attract fierce debate, thereby driving circulation and, increasingly, online traffic. On the reverse side, keen proponents of wind power are sometimes too quick to dismiss any problems raised, levelling the charge of 'nimby' at any concerned group who voice a protest over planned developments. While not wilfully dishonest, both sides of the debate can be accused of colouring their opposing arguments to further their point of view by stirring up all levels of human emotions.
Clearly, there is a need to address the concerns of local communities when a wind farm is being built; but, the community should be engaged from the start so that the pros and cons of local developments are fully discussed. The dismissing of the problem by regulators and the energy industry as 'nimbyism' reveals that a 'barrier-oriented' view prevails. This can leave residents feeling disenfranchised and unable to control their own landscape.. Balanced dialogue and direct community involvement to redress perceived inequities are needed if renewables are to realise their aims of a far greater spread of wind power across all countries where wind is in constant supply.
It is becoming more and more prevalent that wind farms offer a flexible, modular system that if implemented as a diversified resource with effective nationwide spread can offer a reliable source of low-carbon energy, with virtually free resource, forming a core part of a mixed renewables portfolio in combination with a reduced platform of responsive conventional capacity. In particular, when compared with nuclear fuel, although the operating costs may be about the same, the size of the carbon footprint with nuclear is horrendous, when one takes into account the construction costs, the processing of the raw uranium, the perceived security issues, and of course, the draconian de-commissioning costs.
Now, given the UK government projections that onshore wind will become the cheapest way to generate electricity by 2020, it will remain a crucial component of the UK's renewable strategy, so whatever approach is taken, wind power is on a committed expansion across the UK.
If you look at the common objections to wind farms (see list below), you may find this useful in trying to put some considered opinions both for and against wind power. In many cases though, developers will quote from certain web sites, and as there is so much conflicting information for and against wind farms, you will have to carry out a lot of research on the topic yourself, and draw your own conclusions. In many cases, it becomes quite plain that wind power holds the key to one of the most prolific renewable energy sources in the UK, and may other countries around the world. However, what has not been demonstrated yet, is a technology that can actually convert this massive free renewable energy efficiently and effectively into electrical energy.
For every web site promoting the merits of wind turbines, an equal amount cast the opposite view. If the people on these sites can have many opposing views, how is the man in the street - or indeed, a developer - going to know the actual truth?
If you look at the following list, you will find the areas that cause most concern from both sides of the argument.
Only by getting your own facts together on every of the following points can you even begin to build up your argument, for or against the proposal.
- Wind turbines and energy payback times.
- Wind turbines, costs and subsidies.
- Efficiency of wind turbines.
- Intermittency of wind turbines.
- The need for Offshore as well as Onshore Turbines
- Wind power verses nuclear power.
- Wind Turbines and Property Prices.
- Wind Turbines and Safety.
- Wind Turbines, shadow flicker and epilepsy.
- Wind Turbines and Noise.
- Infrasound from Wind Turbines, and the 'Wind Turbine Syndrome'.
- Bat and bird mortality due to wind turbines.
- Wind Turbines and their Carbon footprint.
- Wind Turbines and their effect on the local environment.
The way forward is not, in my opinion, on the continued installation of more bigger and bigger turbines (HAWTs), because this will not only wreck the environment, create a massive carbon footprint of its own in the construction, despoil the landscape, cause the most vociferous objections, and also promulgate the totally inefficient manner (less than 25%) in which wind energy is captured and converted to green electricity. This then has the detrimental effect of delaying or even postponing the eventual acceptance and widespread implementation of this highly efficient and highly desirable free energy source that should be providing us with much lower energy bills.
The more turbines that are distributed across the whole country, the greater the chance that wind capture is stabilised at any one point in time, smoothing out energy levels. By developing a family of turbines that are unobtrusive, far more efficient (greater than 50%), with energy outputs far greater per hectare than their giant HAWT cousins, our energy bills will be lowered, objections decimated, and the threat of daily energy blackouts totally avoided.
There is no question about the need for wind energy, or its importance to the economy or environment. However, only technology improvements can hold the key to its successful adoption.
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