Are there going to be thousands of wind turbines all over the countryside?
No. 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, larger, more powerful wind turbines mean that fewer turbines are needed to make best use of each site’s potential. Wales is subject to many constraints, including the existence of a widely distributed population, military low flying areas, ecologically sensitive sites and landscape designations. Each proposal will be assessed individually on its own merits by the determining authority, and where a particular proposal is considered to give rise to significant cumulative effects, these will be taken into full account by the determining authority when making its decision.

How much noise do wind turbines produce?
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 significant risk to birds or other wildlife. Studies are currently taking place to ensure that this is the case for Mynydd y Gwair and the results of these studies will form part of the Environmental Statement.

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.

Do wind turbines present a health risk due to low frequency noise?
It has been repeatedly shown by measurements of wind turbine noise undertaken over the past decade, and accepted by experienced noise professionals, that the levels of infrasonic noise and vibration radiated from modern wind turbines are very low; so low that they lie below the threshold of perception, even for those people who are particularly sensitive to such noise. In response to recent accusations that wind turbines emit infrasound and cause associated health problems, Dr Geoff Leventhall, Consultant in Noise Vibration and Acoustics and author of the Defra Report on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects, says: “I can state quite categorically that there is no significant infrasound from current designs of wind turbines.”¹

What impact do wind farms have on the value of residential properties?
Two recent surveys independently conducted by Knight Frank (on behalf of the British Wind Energy Association) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), into the effect of wind farms on house prices summarise that their results are inconclusive. Those respondents that did report a negative impact to the RICS noted that it was predominantly during the planning stage of a wind farm development and probably a result of uncertainty about the proposal. The results also imply that any impact reduces over time once a wind farm has been constructed.

Does it take more energy to make a wind turbine than it generates?
The average wind farm will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within 3 - 5 months of operation.² A modern wind turbine is designed to operate for more than 20 years and at the end of its working life, the area can be restored at low financial and environmental costs.

Are wind turbines inefficient? Is it true that they only operate 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. This fact is taken into account when calculating figures about electricity production.

Wind energy is intermittent, doesn’t that mean we need to generate an equivalent amount more backup electricity from conventional power stations so we don’t get black-outs?
No, for up to 10% of wind energy on the electricity system there should be no technical problems in managing intermittency and ensuring reliable supplies of electricity. All power stations need to be supported by backup or reserve capacity on the Grid in case of electrical or mechanical failures, and it has long been standard practice to provide it. A capacity margin around 20% for demand uncertainties and plant failures is not untypical³. A recent report by the Department of Trade & Industry and the Carbon Trust⁴ states that intermittency of renewable energy is not a significant issue for the grid at current target levels.

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.

What consideration is being given to alternative renewable energy sources?
npower renewables operates a wide-ranging renewable energy portfolio, including onshore and offshore wind farms, hydroelectric schemes and biomass co-firing. The npower Juice fund is supporting the growth of other developing “new” renewables such as wave and tidal by making donations towards research and development projects. In January 2005, Regen SW, the renewable energy agency for the South West of England, received an award of £195,000 for a project to collect data on the wave energy climate off the North Cornish coast. This project will provide valuable data to companies designing wave farm technology for future use in the UK and beyond.

What role can energy efficiency play in fighting global warming?
Energy efficiency will play a vital role in fighting climate change. The Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) is a Government scheme that sets each electricity supplier a target to save energy based on the number of domestic consumers they supply. npower’s contribution to date has included offering cheap insulation, offers on energy efficient appliances, energy efficient light bulbs and free advice on energy saving measures. npower renewables has, in the past, offered additional energy efficiency savings as part of community benefit packages for wind farms.

Notes:

1. Defra (2003), A Review of Published Research on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects, Report for Defra by Dr Geoff Leventhall Assisted by Dr Peter Pelmear and Dr Stephen Benton. Available online at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/noise/lowfrequency/pdf/lowfreqnoise.pdf.
2. Milborrow, Dispelling the Myths of Energy Payback Time, as published in Windstats, vol 11, no 2 (Spring 1998).
3. House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, 4th Report of Session 2003-04, Renewable Energy: Practicalities, Volume 1: Report.
4. “Renewables Impact Study”, Department of Trade & Industry and the Carbon Trust, 2004

back

top