Facts about Wind Farms

That average wind farm in Scotland would take about 6 months to pay back the energy used in its manufacture. The cost of energy from the best wind sites (2-3p per unit) now rivals that of energy produced from fossil fuels. Wind energy technology is developing fast, which will bring down prices and will make it more efficient. World wind energy capacity has doubled every three years since 1990, each doubling was accompanied by a 15% reduction in the price of wind turbines.

Wind energy is an intermittent resource, in that it is not always windy. However, the variable output from wind farms does not pose any serious difficulty. No energy source can be relied upon 100% of the time. Wind turbines generate electricity 70-85% of the time. Wind energy is backed up by other sources of electricity that already exist to ensure the UK has a secure supply. Some fossil fuelled power stations are kept in a condition known as 'spinning reserve' to ensure that there is enough power to respond rapidly to changes in electricity demand or output. These power stations are burning fuel to generate electricity but are not running at full capacity. This spinning reserve will always be needed to cater for unexpected unavailability of power sources and not just to cater for the currently low levels of electricity generated from the wind.

Actually, wind energy coincides well with the peak periods of electricity demand, which often peak during periods of cold windy weather, when wind turbines are at their most productive. In addition, the geographical differences in wind farm sites should cushion the changes in output. Also, improving weather forecasts will help predict wind power which can be incorporated into the planning of the grid.

 There are a number of myths about wind farms that have been propagated by people who are opposed to wind farms.   The Scottish Executive's surveys on public attitudes to wind farm show that public concerns over wind farms are often unfounded. In a survey concerning the effects of a wind farm on the local area only 7% of people thought it had a negative effect.

Contrary to popular belief wind turbines are not noisy. They actually cause minimal disturbance to houses just a few hundred meters away and it is possible to hold a conversation while standing under a turbine without raising your voice. Any noise they do make is usually drowned out by the noise of the wind itself and is less noisy than normal road traffic or a standard office.

Wind turbines do not pose a significant threat to wildlife, such as birds or livestock. The RSPB claims that appropriately positioned wind turbines do not pose a significant hazard to bird populations, which are more at risk from domestic cats. They also support renewable energy such as wind because they mitigate climate change, which they believe poses a more serious threat to wildlife.

Before the construction of wind farms developers are obliged to carry out environmental impact assessments. Through conducting EIAs and monitoring, wind farms can be installed in locations without any significant adverse effect on wildlife or the environment.

Many wind farms become tourist attractions in there own right and there is no evidence to suggest that they deter tourists. A survey carried out on tourists in the Argyle area, by the Scottish Renewables demonstrated that wind farms do not harm the tourist trade.

There is no evidence of wind farms having a detrimental effect on house prices, with some areas actually showing increase in house prices close to wind farms. A survey conducted on behalf of N Power in reference to house prices around the Novar wind farm in the Highlands, showed that 72% of respondents maintained that the wind farm has had no effect, none of them said that house prices had decreased, while 1% said house prices has increased a little.

The only substantial argument against wind farms is that they have an impact on visual amenity; however this is subjective as many people find wind farms to be visually appealing. Everyone should go to a wind farm to see for themselves the reality of harnessing one of Scotland's most abundant renewable resources.