disadvantage of wind energy
Answers
Disadvantages of Wind Energy
Fluctuation of Wind and Good wind sites:– Wind energy has a drawback that it is not a constant energy source. Although wind energy is sustainable and will never run out, the wind isn’t always blowing. This can cause serious problems for wind turbine developers who will often spend significant time and money investigating whether or not a particular site is suitable for the generation of wind power. For a wind turbine to be efficient, the location where it is built needs to have an adequate supply of wind energy.
Noise and aesthetic pollution:– Wind turbines generate noise and visual pollution. A single wind turbine can be heard from hundreds of meters away. Although steps are often taken to site wind turbines away from dwellings. Many people like the look of wind turbines, others do not and see them as a blot on the landscape.
Not a profitable use of land:– Alternative uses for the land might be more highly valued than electricity generation.
Threat to wildlife:– Birds have been killed by flying into spinning turbine blades. However it is believed that wind turbines pose less of a threat to wildlife than other man made structures such as cell phone masts and radio towers. Most of the problems have been resolved or greatly reduced through technological development or by properly siting wind plants.
Disadvantages of Wind Energy
Wind is inconsistent
Wind energy has a lot in common with solar energy in terms of consistency. Although wind energy qualifies as a renewable resource, wind speeds fluctuate each day. This can be a big disappointment to wind turbine developers who will commit every penny and every ounce of energy in the project only to end up with fluctuating wind patterns.
This is why developers must do their research first to pinpoint the best location for setting up turbines before actual installation. The best location must have sufficient supply of wind. This explains why you’ll almost always see wind turbines installed on top of high elevations like hills and mountains or off shores where there are minimal obstacles that could potentially slow down the speed of wind. Higher elevations are preferred since the higher up you go, the stronger the winds.
Involves high upfront capital investment
A lot has been done to bring down the cost of installing turbines; the overall costs, however, remain on the higher side. The first step to installing a turbine is usually to do a rigorous survey to determine the winds speed of the location. This involves erecting a sample turbine to gauge the wind speeds over a stipulated period. If the location is found to be ideal, the wind turbine will be manufactured and transported to the site and set up on a strong foundation. The entire process adds up to the cost of setting up a wind turbine.
When talking about offshore wind turbines, the cost becomes more pronounced. This is because it’s a daunting task to install wind turbines offshore than onshore. Some firms even go to the extent of commissioning bespoke ships with the ability to transport and install wind turbines at sea.
Visual impact
Although wind turbines come with eye-catching designs, they impact the natural beauty of the landscape. When a lot more wind turbines are set up, the area becomes unsightly. The local community starts to sound alarm bells, and this can escalate to a conflict.
Though many people believe that wind turbines actually look nice but majority of them disagree. People consider wind turbines to have an undesirable experience. Petitions usually come in court before any proposed wind farm development but few people think otherwise and feel they should be kept in tact for everyone to enjoy its beauty.
Can reduce the local bird population
Wind turbines are particularly disadvantageous to the local bird species. A lot of bird death as a result of collision with turbine blades has been reported in these areas. This can wipe out the population of certain bird species. Also, wind turbines require them to be dig deep into the earth which could have negative effect on the underground habitats. However, there has been an influx of bladeless wind turbines in the marketplace designed to reduce bird deaths. This could be a game changer for turbine manufacturers.
Noise disturbances
The most hated disadvantage to wind turbines is the noise they produce. The sound produced by one turbine can be perceived from far distances. Combine many turbines, and the noise becomes unbearable. Many homeowners’ lives have been turned upside down due to the noise pollution from turbines. Although the emphasis is to site wind turbines away from the local community, most companies disregard this rule. This explains the strong public objections to wind turbine installations in most areas. The visual pollution is another reason why people do not find it attractive to install it in their backyard.
Takes up significant portion of land
The best location of wind turbines can be the most fertile land where farming is practiced. Installation of wind turbines would take away land that has been the bedrock of agricultural activities for many years.
Safety Concerns
In the last couple of decades, the frequency of tornadoes, hurricanes and cyclones have increased considerably. Now these severe storms can cause extensive damage to the wind turbines and can be a safety hazard to the people working in these wind farms. The damage may cause huge damage to wind turbines.
Suited To Particular Region
Wind turbines are suited to the coastal regions which receive wind throughout the year to generate power. Therefore, countries that do not have any coastal or hilly areas may not be able to take any advantage of wind power. The location of a wind power system is crucial, and one should determine the best possible location for wind turbine in order to capture as much wind as possible. Just like solar energy which relies heavily on sun to produce power, wind energy needs high speed winds to produce power on constant basis.