Wind turbines vary in size depending on which model of turbine you choose. But in general the towers range form 65m to 105m and the blades can be up to 45m long.
Wind farming is popular with farmers, because their land can continue to be used for growing crops or grazing livestock. Sheep, cows and horses are not disturbed by wind turbines. The first wind farm built in the UK, Delabole, has a stud farm and riding school, and the farmer, Peter Edwards, often rides around the wind farm on his horse.
A noise impact assessment will be undertaken in accordance with the Noise Working Group on Wind Turbine Noise, Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms, September 1996 (ETSU-R-1997) as required by Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy (PPS22, ODPM 2004). Residential property will be considered within the model to ensure that recommended noise levels are not exceeded. Full details of the assessment will be included within the Environmental Statement.
When the wind stops blowing in one area it is generally blowing in another area. Electricity across the grid continues to be provided by other forms of generation, such as gas or coal-fired power plants. Our electricity system is mostly made up of large power plants, and the system has to be able to cope if one of these goes out of action. It is possible to have up to 10% of the country's needs met by intermittent energy sources such as wind energy, without having to make any significant changes to the way the system operates. More can be accommodated, but extra storage capacity or spinning reserve would be necessary, which would have a cost implication. Wind energy is highly predictable for the energy industry and so forms an excellent base load provider.
There is no evidence to suggest that wind farms negatively affect tourism. A MORI survey of visitors to major beauty spots in Scotland stated that the presence of wind farms in the area made no difference to whether they would return.
When asked what effect, if any, the wind farms had had on their impression of the area, 55 per cent said 'generally' or 'completely positive', 32 per cent said 'ambivalent' and only 8 per cent said 'negative' (MORI Social Research, 2002).
The Ministry of Defence (MoD), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and any nearby airports or airfields will be consulted regarding this proposal. At no point will any aircrafts safety be put at risk.
There is currently no evidence to date in the UK showing that wind farms impact upon house prices.
Studies published in November 2004 by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and leading chartered surveyors Knight Frank show either that there is no evidence to confirm any impact or that any effects observed have no lasting impact (www.bwea.com).
Furthermore, there is evidence following a comprehensive study by the Scottish Executive that those living nearest to wind farms are their strongest advocate (MORI, 2003).
The wind farm would be built with specifications for a 25-year lifetime. At the end of their working life the wind turbines would be removed and the ground surface would be reinstated to its former condition to allow the site to revert to its former agricultural use. Through the whole decommissioning process the will be continual consultation with the landowners.
The rotating wind turbine blades can cast a moving shadow on the surrounding countryside that cause a flickering effect and can affect residents living nearby. Whether problems due to shadow flicker will occur is dependent on the size of the turbines, the distance from the turbines to the shadow receptors, the angle and intensity of the sun and meteorological circumstances.
The theoretical maximum energy which a wind turbine can extract from the wind blowing across it is just under 60%, known as the Betz limit. However the meaning of efficiency is a redundant concept to apply to wind energy, where the fuel is free. The primary concern is not the efficiency for its own sake, but to improve productivity in order to bring the price of wind energy down.
For one turbine a landowner could earn between £3,000 to £6,000 per installed MW, depending on the current market price of electricity.
A modern wind turbine generates electricity 70-85% of the time, but electrical generation depends on the wind speed. Over a period of a year a turbine will produce 30% of the theoretical maximum output.
Wind turbines start turning at wind speeds of 4 to 5 metres per second (around 10 miles and hour) an reach maximum out put at around 12 metres/second (around 30 miles per hour). At very high wind speeds (50 + miles/hour) the wind turbines shut down for safety reasons.
The tower are sections of steel tube which are generally painted a light grey colour. The blades are made of glass-fibre reinforced polyester or epoxy-wood. They are painted light grey as this is the most inconspicuous under most lighting conditions and this with the matt finish helps reduce reflected light.
Yes, we are somewhat behind our European counterparts Germany, they have 19,460 installed turbines producing 22,247MW a year (at the end of 2007). There are currently 186 operational wind farms in the UK (both onshore and offshore) with 2,120 turbines creating enough energy to power the equivalent of 1,523,052 homes and saving 6,156,175 tonnes of carbon. There are 42 in construction, with a further 134 consented and 268 in planning (as of Oct 08).
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