Are there going to be hundreds of wind turbines all over the countryside?
The UK Government is working towards a target of producing 10% of the UK's electricity supply from renewable energy by 2010. Wind power is currently the most technologically and commercially advanced renewable energy technology in a position to help achieve this target. There are numerous constraints that dictate whether a site may be suitable for wind farm development, therefore wind turbines cannot just be put anywhere. Where a suitable site is identified, modern, more powerful turbines mean that fewer turbines are needed on a per site basis to achieve maximum generation for the site.

Are wind turbines noisy?
Modern turbines are quiet in operation and you can hold a conversation underneath one without raising your voice. The final design of the wind farm will ensure that strict guidelines relating to noise are complied with.

Do wind turbines harm birds or wildlife?
The RSPB stated in its 2004 leaflet ‘Wind farms and Birds’, that ‘in the UK , we have not so far witnessed any major adverse effects on birds associated with wind farms. ‘ A report published in the journal ‘Nature’ confirmed that the greatest threat to birds in the UK is climate change. Carefully-sited turbines should pose no risk to birds or wildlife.

Are wind turbines dangerous?
No, wind energy is one of the safest energy technologies. No member of the public has ever been injured by wind energy or wind turbines anywhere in the world, despite the fact that there are now over 68,000 operational wind turbines.

Does it take more energy to make a wind turbine than it generates?
No, once operational, the average wind farm in the UK will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within three to five months.

Are wind turbines inefficient? Is it true that they only operating 30% of the time?
No, a modern wind turbine produces electricity 70-85% of the time, but it generates different outputs dependent on wind speed. Over the course of a year, it will generate about 30% of the theoretical maximum output.

What happens to the turbines at the end of their life?
npower renewables will ensure that at the end of the wind farm’s life, the wind turbines and associated equipment would be removed, leaving barely a trace of its previous existence.

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