Fact: Government legislation requires that 10% of electricity supplies must come from renewable sources by 2010. By 2020, that figure must increase to 15%. Wind power is currently the most cost effective renewable energy technology to achieve that. In 2009, renewable sources accounted for around 5% of our electricity demand.
The average modern onshore wind turbine has a rated capacity of 3 megawatts (MW). Offshore turbines currently being installed are rated at around 5MW. Just 2-3 years ago the maximum rated capacity of similar-sized turbines would have been 2MW onshore and 3MW offshore. The rated capacity of similar-sized turbines in the future is predicted to increase as efficiencies continue to improve.
Changes in planning and other Government legislation is beginning to encourage windfarm development throughout the UK, however windfarm developers do not have a free rein to develop in any location. Quite the opposite. Windfarm developers have to take into account many factors before submitting a planning application for a windfarm. This includes Environmental and Visual Impact assessments to ensure the effects of any development are managed and minimised.
Much of the UK's countryside is protected from any form of development for environmental, military, aviation and wildlife reasons. There are also substantial areas of the UK that are designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which cannot be developed. Adding to that the scarcity of potential locations for a suitable grid connection should mean that windfarms will be constrained to specific areas of the UK landscape in mostly hidden locations.
Fact: Power Stations are the largest contributor to carbon emissions producing 170 million tonnes of CO2 each year. We need to switch to forms of energy that do not produce CO2. In a year just one modern wind turbine will produce around 9,000,000 units of electricity - enough to power around 1600 households - and save over 6,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Wind power is a clean, renewable source of energy which produces no greenhouse gas emissions. The UK currently emits 560 million tonnes of carbon dioxide CO2 every year and the Government target is to cut this by 60% by 2050.
Wind turbines are one of the few renewable energy sources that can produce electricity on a large scale. Large scale electricity generation from Biomass and Energy-from-Waste play a significant part in achieving government carbon reduction targets but have limited impact due to constraints in available fuel sources. New technologies such as Wave power and Hydrogen Fuel Cells are currently being developed, but as yet these technologies are too new to fully understand their potential. At the moment other forms of renewable energy sources like solar power, can only generate small amounts of electricity for domestic purposes.
Wind generation is the only proven renewable technology that is readily available, totally green and can produce on a large scale. Wind power has the primary role to play in achieving the UK's carbon reduction targets.
Fact: The average wind farm will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within 3-5 months of operation. A modern wind turbine is designed to operate for around 25 years and at the end of its working life, the area can be restored at low financial and environmental costs.
Wind energy is a form of development, which is essentially reversible - in contrast to fossil fuel or nuclear power stations.
Fact:The modern wind turbine produces electricity 70-85% of the time, but it generates different outputs depending on wind speed. Over the course of a year, it will generate about 30% to 40% of the theoretical maximum output. This is known as its load factor. However, the load factor of a new power station is generally less than 50%, as most of the generated energy from burning fossil fuels is lost in the form of heat.
Fact: All forms of power generation require back-up and no energy technology can be relied upon 100%. The UK's transmission system already operates with enough back-up to manage the instantaneous loss of a large power station. Variations in the output from wind farms are barely noticeable over and above the normal fluctuation in supply and demand, seen when the nation's workforce goes home, or if lightning brings down a high voltage transmission line. Therefore, at present there is no need for additional back-up because of wind energy.
Fact: The simple fact is that power plants in the UK are being shut down, whether through European legislation on emissions or sheer old age. We need to act now to find replacement power sources: wind is an abundant resource, indigenous to the UK and therefore has a vital role to play in the new energy portfolio.
In 2009, power from wind could generate over 3.6MW of our electricity demand. In a year this saves over 4 Million Tonnes of CO2, 95,000 Tonnes of SO2 and 29,000 Tonnes of NOx being emitted into the atmosphere as it displaces those emissions from conventional power stations.
Fact: The cost of generating electricity from wind has fallen dramatically over the past few years. Between 1990 and 2003, world wide wind energy capacity doubled every three years and with every doubling prices fell by 15%. Wind energy is competitive with new coal and new nuclear capacity, even before any environmental costs of conventional generation are taken into account. The average cost of generating electricity from onshore wind is now around 3-4p per kilowatt hour, competitive with new coal (2.5-4.5p) and cheaper than new nuclear (4-7p). As gas prices increase and wind power costs fall - both of which are very likely - wind becomes even more competitive, so much so that some time after 2010, wind should challenge gas as the lowest cost power source.
Furthermore, the UK has around 40% of the total European wind resource making it a free and widely available fuel source, therefore once the wind farm is in place, there are no fuel or waste related costs.
Fact: Wind energy's role in combating climate change is not a matter of either/or. The UK will need a mix of new and existing renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures, and as quickly as possible. Significant amounts of investment have been allocated for wave and tidal energy developments, and these technologies, along with solar and biomass energy will have an important role in the UK's future energy mix.
However, wind energy is the most cost effective renewable energy technology available to generate clean electricity and help combat climate change right now. Furthermore, developing a strong wind industry will facilitate other renewable technologies, which have not reached commercialisation yet, accumulating valuable experience in dealing with issues such as grid connection, supply chain and finance.
Fact: The UK will need a mix of both onshore and offshore wind energy to meet our challenging targets on climate change. At present, onshore wind is more economical than development offshore. However, more offshore wind farms are now under construction, with the first of the large-scale projects operational at the end of 2003.
Furthermore, offshore wind farms will take longer to develop, as the sea is inherently a more hostile environment. To expect offshore wind farms to be the only form of generation allowed would therefore condemn us to missing our renewable targets and commitment to tackle climate change.
Fact: Whether a windfarm could be deemed ugly or not is a matter of personal opinion. Stringent legislation exists to ensure windfarms are only built in the most appropriate areas. However, studies regularly show that most people find wind turbines an interesting feature of the landscape. Recent polls suggest that 80% of the public support wind energy, less than 10% are against it, with the remainder undecided. Surveys conducted since the early 1990s across the country near existing wind farms have consistently found that most people are in favour of wind energy, with support increasing among those living closer to the wind farms.
Fact: There is no evidence to suggest this. The UK's first commercial wind farm at Delabole received 350,000 visitors in its first ten years of operation, while 10,000 visitors a year come to take the turbine tours at the EcoTech Centre in Swaffham, Norfolk. A MORI poll in Scotland showed that 80% of tourists would be interested in visiting a wind farm. Wind farm developers are often asked to provide visitor centres and viewing platforms.
Fact: There is currently no evidence in the UK showing that wind farms impact house prices. However, there is evidence following a comprehensive study by the Scottish Executive that those living nearest to wind farms are their strongest advocates.
Fact: The RSPB stated in its 2004 information leaflet "Wind Farms and Birds" that "in the UK we have not so far witnessed any major adverse effects on bird associated with wind farms". Wind farms are always subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment and BWEA members follow the industry's best practice guidelines and work closely with organisations such as Scottish Natural Heritage and the RSPB to ensure that wind farm design and layout does not interfere with sensitive species or wildlife designated sites.
Moreover, a report published in the journal "Nature" confirmed that the greatest threat to bird populations in the UK is climate change. The RSPB has confirmed that the trend for bird species to migrate further north to find a cooler environment is already happening. This is one of the biggest indicators yet affect that Climate Change may have on our environment.
Fact: Wind energy is a benign technology with no associated emissions, harmful pollutants or waste products. In over 25 years and with more than 68,000 machines installed around the world, no member of the public has ever been harmed by the normal operation of wind turbines. In response to recent unscientific accusations that wind turbines emit infrasound and cause associated health problems, Dr Geoff Leventall, Consultant in Noise Vibration and Acoustics and author of the DEFRA Report on Low Frequency and its Effect says, "I can state quite categorically that there is no significant infrasound from current designs of wind turbines. To say there is an infrasound problem is one of the hares which objectors to wind farms like to run. There will not be any effects from infrasound from the turbines."
Fact: The evolution of wind turbine technology over the past decade has rendered mechanical noise from turbines almost undetectable with the main sound being the aerodynamic swoosh of the blades passing the tower. There are strict guidelines on wind turbines and noise emissions to ensure the protection of residential amenity. These are contained in the scientifically informed ETSU Working Group Guidelines 1996 and must be followed by wind farm developers as referenced in national planning policy for renewables.
The best advice for any doubter is go and hear for yourself!