Wind power is a clean, emissions-free power generation technology. Like all renewable sources it is based on capturing the energy from natural forces and has none of the polluting effects associated with ‘conventional’ fuels.   

 

Climate change

First and foremost, wind energy produces no carbon dioxide - the main greenhouse gas contributing to climate change – during its operation, and minimal quantities during the manufacture of its equipment and construction of wind farms. By contrast, fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil are major emitters of carbon dioxide.

Wind energy is a key solution in the fight against climate change, and it is well on track to saving 10 billion tons of CO2 by 2020. More information on wind energy and climate change.

 

Air pollution

Wind Power also has a positive effect on the quality of the air we breathe. The combustion of fossil fuels also produces the gases sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, both serious sources of pollution. These gases are the main components of the ‘acid rain’ effect - killing forests, polluting water courses and corroding the stone facades of buildings; not to mention the human health effects. More information on wind energy and air pollution. 

 

Water

Another consideration of wind energy deployment concerns water. In an increasingly water-stressed world, wind power uses virtually none of this most precious of commodities in its operation. Most conventional technologies, from mining and extraction to fuel processing and plant cooling measure their water use in the millions of liters per day.

Other environmental effects resulting from the range of fuels currently used to generate electricity include the landscape degradation and dangers of fossil fuel exploration and mining, the pollution caused by accidental oil spills and the health risks associated with radiation produced by the routine operation and waste management of the nuclear fuel cycle. Exploiting renewable sources of energy, including wind power, avoids these risks and hazards.  

 

Environmental Impacts

Wind energy is arguably the cleanest electricity generation technology, but, like any other industry, does have environmental impacts. The construction and operation of wind farms, often in rural areas, raises issues of visual impact, noise and the potential effects on local ecology and wildlife. Most of these issues are addressed during consultation with local authorities.

The wind industry takes its responsibility to reduce the impacts of wind energy on the environment very seriously, and, since the early days of this relatively young industry, significant improvements have been made with regards to the siting of wind farms and the design of turbines. 

Visual impact

Wind turbines are highly visible elements in the landscape. They need to be in order to catch the prevailing wind and work effectively. How people perceive them varies, but many see wind farms as elegant and graceful symbols of a better, less polluted future. For more information on the visual impact of wind turbines.

Noise

Compared to other types of industrial plants, wind farms are extremely quiet. Even though turbines are commonly located in rural areas, where background noise is lower, the roar of the wind often masks any sound their operation might make. Measured in a range of 35 to 45 decibels at a distance of 350 metres from the turbines, their sound is similar to the background noise found in a typical home. For more information on wind turbines and noise.

Birds and bats

The most significant long term threat to birds and their habitats comes from climate change. Global shifts in the climate are altering the pattern of indigenous plant species and their attendant insect life, making once attractive areas uninhabitable.

According to the UK’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, “recent scientific research indicates that, as early as the middle of this century, climate change could commit one third or more of land-based plants and animals to extinction, including some species of British birds”. Compared to this threat, “the available evidence suggests that appropriately positioned wind farms do not pose a significant hazard for birds,” it concludes. More information on birds and bats.

Offshore wind farms

As on land, offshore wind developers have to ensure that their turbines and transmission infrastructure do not interfere with marine life and ecosystems. National regulations ensure that project developers assess in both qualitative and quantitative terms the expected environmental impacts on the marine environment. These procedures ensure that projects comply with international and EU law as well as conventions and regulations covering habitat and wildlife conservation.

Within the structure of an environmental impact assessment, an initial baseline study is conducted. Subsequent monitoring is necessary to record any changes within the marine environment which may have been caused by human activity. The monitoring phase may go on for several years, and evaluations and conclusions are updated annually to assess changes over time. More on the environmental impact of offshore wind farms.