Advantages & Disadvantages Of Wind Energy
There are a range of advantages and disadvantages of
wind energy to
look at, including the many problems associated with wind turbines.
In this day and age, the world needs to look at the
different natural energy sources available to us. Global warming could
be due our energy craving lifestyle, so we should look into more
environmentally friendly energy sources.
Advantages:
- Wind energy is friendly to the surrounding
environment, as no fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity from
wind energy.
- Wind turbines take up less space than the
average power station. Windmills only have to occupy a few square
meters for the base, this allows the land around the turbine to be used
for many purposes, for example agriculture.
- Newer technologies are making the extraction of
wind energy much more efficient. The wind is free, and we are able to
cash in on this free source of energy.
- Wind turbines are a great resource to generate
energy in remote locations, such as mountain communities and remote
countryside. Wind turbines can be a range of different sizes in order
to support varying population levels.
- Another advantage of wind energy is that when
combined with solar electricity, this energy source is great for
developed and developing countries to provide a steady, reliable supply
of electricity.
Disadvantages:
- The main disadvantage regarding wind power is
down to the winds unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds
strength is too low to support a wind turbine or wind farm, and this is
where the use of solar power or geothermal
power could be great alternatives.
- Wind turbines generally produce allot less
electricity than the average fossil fuelled power station, requiring
multiple wind turbines to be built in order to make an impact.
- Wind turbine construction can be very expensive
and costly to surrounding wildlife during the build process.
- The noise pollution from commercial wind
turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine. This is fine if
you live miles away, where you will hardly notice the noise, but what
if you live within a few hundred meters of a turbine? This is a major
disadvantage.
- Protests and/or petitions usually confront any
proposed wind farm development. People feel the countryside should be
left in tact for everyone to enjoy it's beauty.
Overview Of The Wind Energy Advantages And Disadvantages
So there we have the main advantages and
disadvantages of wind power on the surrounding environment, and the
general reliability of wind turbines.