Why is it important?

Wind power is a "clean" way to produce energy. No pollution is produced by the operation of wind turbines. They do not produce carbon dioxide so they do not contribute to climate change. The UK has the best wind energy resource in Europe.

How does it work?

Wind turbines use specially designed blades which are rotated by the wind. The blades spin a turbine which generates electricity.

How much energy can it generate?

A wide range of different sized wind turbines are available, for examples:

  • A single turbine has been installed at Swaffam in Norfolk which produces enough electricity for around 3000 people. The turbine has blades 31m long and is mounted on a tower 67m tall.
  • Very small wind turbines are also available to provide electricity for boats, caravans or outdoor lighting. The blades of these turbines might measure about half a metre across whilst the tower might be a couple of metres high

What does it look like?

Wind turbines consist of a slender tower with a rotor mounted on top. The height of the turbine varies. In general a higher tower allows the turbine to produce more energy as wind speeds are higher and more reliable at height.

The very largest wind turbines can be around 100m high (including the turbine blades), whereas small turbines for household use will only be a few metres high.

Modern turbines are designed to be quiet in operation. However, commercial scale wind turbines should still be sited away from housing as the sound of wind turbines is fairly continuous. At 300 metres distance the sound of a wind turbine should be comparable to the noise of the wind blowing in the trees or a car 100m away at 40mph. The best way to find out how much noise a turbine makes is to visit one for yourself.

Environmental Effects

Manufacturers of wind turbines cause no major environmental impacts. Energy is used in the manufacture and construction of wind farms, but this is only about the same amount as the energy produced by the wind farm in the first 6 months of its operation.

Wind turbines are likely to have a lifetime of around 20 years. At the end of their life they can be replaced by more up to date models or removed altogether.

As a precaution, bird migration routes should be considered when planning the location of large wind turbines. However, research suggests that bird strikes on wind turbines are no worse than on other similar sized structures. A Danish study suggested overhead power lines caused more bird strikes than wind turbines.

Although wind turbines need to be carefully spaced, the actual "footprint" of the turbines and associated access roads is only 1% of the total area of the wind farm. This means that the land on which a wind farm is built can still be used for agriculture.

Where can it be sited?

Wind turbines can be sited in many different locations. As well as onshore sites wind turbines can be situated offshore in the sea, where they are less visible and can use particularly high offshore winds. This could provide a large-scale renewable energy resource for the UK in future as we have a long Atlantic coastline.

Careful site selection is crucial to a successful onshore wind energy project. It is likely that planning permission will be needed for onshore wind turbines, so it is a good idea to consult your local council at an early stage. Here are some of the features to look for in a good wind energy site:
High average wind speeds mean more wind energy. Local knowledge and telltale signs such as trees bent over by the wind are useful in spotting possible sites. However, good on-site monitoring of wind speeds for a year or more is the way to get a detailed, realistic picture.
Wind turbines should be placed away from trees and buildings as they cause turbulence and reduce energy output from the wind.
Placing turbines away from the home also makes noise less of a problem.
The wind speeds up over hills, so hill tops make good wind power sites, although any exposed location can be suitable.
Wind energy can be used at off-grid sites by using battery storage.
For grid connected turbines the distance to a suitable connection point is important.

How much does it cost?

Large scale wind power can now be as cheap as new coal fired power stations.

Small wind turbines for applications such as lighting or boats vary widely in output and therefore price. Very small turbines can be bought for a few hundred pounds. A system to provide electricity of a medium sized detached house might cost in the region of £5000-£15000.

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