To tackle climate change, reduce pollution, protect our environment and reap the benefits of the green economy, we need to change how we generate our electricity – away from fossils fuels and nuclear power, and towards renewable and sustainable low-carbon sources.

Wind energy is the most technologically mature and cost-effective renewable energy. Wales is blessed with abundant wind resources, and harnessing it quickly and effectively is our best way of quickly moving to a green and prosperous low-carbon future.

Despite high support for wind farms, there are many myths and misunderstandings about wind energy. This report sets out the facts, using the latest evidence and research.

November 2014

The factsWind power is safe, clean and effective.

Harnessing the energy from the wind can help tackle climate change, and provide the secure, green energy we need.

Do wind farms produce affordable energy?The extra costs of the environmental and social impacts of conventional fuels are often ignored when calculating the cost of generation.If these costs were accounted for, the costs of generation from fossil fuel sources would massively increase, and wind and hydro power would be recognised as the cheapest12.

As global energy demand is likely to increase13, fossil fuel prices are becoming unpredictable, with a high risk of rising as the accessible fuel reserves decrease. The costs of wind energy can be calculated in advance with great certainty, and so can be classified as a low-risk technology to the economy14.

Are wind farms responsible for huge increases in electricity bills?60% of the increase in energy bills between 2010 and 2012 was due to wholesale energy costs (principally gas).25% was due to network costs and profit, and energy and climate policies accounted for just 15%15. From 2004 to 2010, the rise in the wholesale cost of gas added £290 to the average annual energy bill, whereas government support for renewables added £3016.

According to the UK Government’s Committee on Climate Change, focusing on natural gas could result in the average annual household bill being “as much as £600 higher in 2050 than in a low-carbon system”17.

Is wind energy subsidised by government?Worldwide, fossil fuels receive $523 billion in direct subsidies – far greater than the $88 billion for renewables18.In 2012 the UK oil and gas industries received a £1 billion tax break19. Also, many indirect costs of fossil fuels are paid for by taxpayers, such as pollution, water use, and injuries20. Nuclear power receives many hidden subsidies, including taxations on liabilities in the event of an accident, protection against terrorist attack, and the costs of waste disposal and decommissioning.

All renewable energy in the UK is primarily supported by the Renewables Obligation21. This requires electricity suppliers to get a certain proportion of their electricity from renewable sources, creating a market for renewable energy suppliers. As the efficiency of wind turbines continues to improve, such subsidies can be gradually reduced, lowering prices for consumers.

Is wind power popular in the UK?Wind is a very popular form of energy generation, and it’s getting more popular.UK Government surveys show that popularity of onshore wind energy increased from 66% in 201222 to 68% in 201323.

Are wind farms taking over the countryside?Large wind farms in Wales are restricted to a small number of areas that have been specially selected to avoid sensitive landscapes and areas of high population density24.Additionally, a quarter of Wales’ land area is National Park and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it is unlikely that large wind farms will be built in these protected landscapes.

Do wind farms produce much power?A standard wind turbine can produce enough energy every year to supply about 1,100 homes1.There are 5,101 operational turbines in the UK (as of October 2013) – that’s enough energy for nearly 6 million homes2.

Are wind farms efficient?Wind is a free fuel source, is practically limitless, and does not emit pollutants or greenhouse gases.But does it use the resource (wind) as efficiently as other power stations use their fuels? The efficiency with which conventional power stations convert fuel into electricity is always less than 50% - and for nuclear and coal it’s lower than 40%3. That means that more than half the fuel is wasted. Wind turbines typically harvest 40% of the wind energy passing them, out of a physics limit of 60%4, for an efficiency rating of 66%. Wind turbine blades typically turn for 70-85% of the time5 (when it’s not too still or windy)

Do wind farms require back-up from fossil-fuel power stations due to varying wind?Low wind across more than 90% of the UK occurs on average for just 1 hour every year6, and the increasingly dispersed nature of wind farms and other renewables means wind variability is becoming even less of a problem.Wind speed can be accurately forecast – coal, gas and nuclear plants have much greater implications for electricity supply when unexpectedly shut down.

More wind power is generated during winter and in daytime7 (ie the periods of higher electricity demand), and the electricity industry is very experienced in dealing with peaks and troughs of generation and demand. What back-up wind does require could be adequately provided by other renewable technologies, such as hydro and tidal power, and by energy storage.

Spain and Denmark have already reached 21%7 and 30%8 of electricity generated by wind power. Neither country’s networks appear to have problems dealing with a level of wind capacity higher even than the UK’s 2020 forecast.

Do wind farms use more energy during construction than they will ever generate?Energy spent in the manufacture, maintenance and decommissioning of a typical wind farm is repaid within 3-10 months9.Unlike coal, gas and nuclear plants, wind turbines can be quickly dismantled and the area restored at low financial and environmental cost.

The effectiveness of a wind turbine is determined by its ‘harvesting ratio’. This is the measure of energy it generates against the energy used in manufacture. Typical industrial onshore and offshore turbines achieve a harvesting ratio of 40:1 and 15:1 respectively10 – but even offshore turbines have a much greater return on energy investment than fossil fuel and nuclear power11.

Your questions answered...

Are wind turbines noisy?Modern wind turbines have quieter mechanical components with more aerodynamic blades than earlier versions.From a distance of 500 meters, the noise from a wind turbine is little greater than you might experience in a typical bedroom, and falls within accepted levels for ambient background noise in a countryside environment25.

Do wind farms affect tourism?A number of surveys have shown that wind farms have no detrimental effect on tourism, and may be a positive draw.The University of the West of England’s survey into the impact of a wind farm in Devon concluded that “Wind farms are a positive draw for tourists and most tourists would not boycott areas of natural beauty just because a wind farm was positioned nearby.”26

A survey conducted in Scotland stated that wind farms would not deter tourists from visiting the area in the future27. A report looking into the economic effects of wind farms on tourism reviewed 40 studies in the UK and Ireland concluded “The effects are so small that, providing planning and marketing are carried out effectively, there is no reason why the two [tourism and wind farms] are incompatible.”28

Do wind farms spoil the landscape?The visual impact of wind farms should be considered in the context of the radical impact of the climate change that wind power will help to reduce.Climate change is set to severely alter our landscape and ecosystems. And although some people believe wind farms spoil the landscape, there are many who appreciate their graceful appearance, and view them as a potent symbol of a clean energy future.Visual impact is taken into account by planning authorities. And the UK’s Sustainable Development Commission concluded there are “far fewer landscape and environmental impacts associated with wind turbines when compared to the alternatives – and most of the impacts can be reversed quickly.”29

Would wind farms be necessary if we saved more energy?Energy efficiency is the first priority to reduce both climate-changing gases and fuel costs. But we also need to generate electricity – not least because we will have to use electricity to power our vehicles in the decades ahead. Given that the future will only be powered by renewable energy30, the sooner we generate all our energy from renewable sources the better.

Are wind farms safe?There is no convincing evidence of adverse health effects of wind turbines31. No peer-reviewed articles demonstrate a link between people living close to wind turbines, the noise from turbines and any physiological health effects32. No member of the public has ever been directly injured during the normal operation of a wind turbine, with more than 70,000 machines installed worldwide33.

Are wind farms necessary, as Wales already produces enough energy?To tackle climate change we need to decarbonise our energy supply34, which means increasing our renewable electricity supplies and starting to close dirty fossil fuel power stations. Wales has been a net exporter of electricity to England since at least 2004. But most of our electricity is generated from fossil fuels that cause climate change, and 20% comes from Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey, which has no solution to the radioactive waste it creates35.

Do wind farms damage peat bogs, causing more climate change emissions than avoiding?Calculations tend to show a carbon payback period of 1 to 2 years on peat, meaning at least 23 years of net carbon saving over a 25 year lifespan36. The impact of any particular wind farm will vary, depending on the circumstances of the area. The depth and condition of the peat, for example, will have a particular bearing on carbon emissions arising from construction. Wind turbines tend not to be placed on sensitive virgin peat37.

Do wind farms kill large numbers of birds?Fossil fuel and nuclear power cause many more avian deaths than wind turbines.The causes include mining, collision with operating plant equipment, and for fossil fuel plants, through acid rain, mercury pollution and climate change38.

And for a single bird killed in collision with a wind turbine, 5,820 are killed through collision with buildings39. Academic research has concluded that wind farms can have minimal effect on birds when informed by good assessments of site selection and wind turbine design40, and the RSPB supports a significant growth in wind power as a means to combat climate change41.

Do wind farms increase the risk of flooding?Many wind farm developments in upland areas contribute to habitat improvement42, and have a flood-lessening impact. All larger wind farms undergo a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, to identify and minimise the negative environmental impacts during and after construction. In high risk flood areas, proposed wind farms require a detailed Flood Consequences Assessment to study the potential effects on surface water drainage. Increased flooding is likely to be one of the most serious impacts of climate change43 – the use of wind power to mitigate climate change reduces the likelihood of future flooding.

“Wind is a very popular form of energy generation - and it’s getting more popular”

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1. The amount of electricity a wind project generates calculated in homes equivalent is calculated by: Number of households = B x C x 8760 / 4400, where B = the rated capacity of the wind energy development in kW, C = load factor, 8760 is the number of hours in a year and 4400 = an average annual demand of 4400 kWh per UK house based on electricity consumption.

2. Renewables UK, 2013. UK Wind Energy Database: www.renewableuk.com/en/renewable-energy/wind-energy/uk-wind-energy-database/index.cfm

3. Eurelectric, 2003. Efficiency in Electricity Generation Report, p134. Huleihil, M and Mazor, G, 2012. Wind Turbine Power: The Betz

Limit and Beyond5. The European Wind Energy Association:

http://www.ewea.org/wind-energy-basics/faq/6. Sinden G, 2012, Characteristics of the UK wind resource: Long-

term patterns and relationship to electricity demand.7. The Guardian, 2014. Wind power was Spain’s top source of

electricity in 2013. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/06/wind-power-spain-electricity-2013

8. Danish Energy Agency, 11 February 2013, Electricity consumption fell by 1.3% in 2012. Avilable at: http://www.ens.dk/en/info/news-danish-energy-agency/electricity-consumption-fell-13-2012

9. Garegg Lwyd Hill Wind Farm. Available at: www.garreglwydhill.co.uk/the-project/common-questions.aspx

10. Cambridge University, 2012, How offshore wind turbines could be more efficient

11. Kubiszewski I et al., 2010, Meta-analysis of net energy return for wind power systems, Renewable Energy 35 (2010), 218-225

12. Clubb, D, 2012. Levelling the playing field: An economic assessment of electricity generation in Europe.; Available at www.academia.edu/1879822/The_economics_of_electricity_generation_leveling_the_playing_field

13. International Energy Agency, 2010. World Energy Outlook, 201014. European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), 2009. The

Economics of Wind Energy15. DECC, March 2013, Estimated impacts of energy and climate

change policies on energy prices and bills16. Committee on Climate Change (CCC), 2011. Household energy

bills – Impacts of meeting carbon budgets17. Committee on Climate Change, December 2012. Energy prices

and bills – impacts of meeting carbon budgets18. Business Green, 4 February 2013, IEA Chief: Fossil fuel subsidies

are public enemy number one for green energy19. Guardian, 4 February 2013, Friends of the Earth says George

Osborne creating ‘bonanza’ for oil firms20. Clubb, D, 2012. Levelling the playing field: An economic

assessment of electricity generation in Europe. Available at: www.scribd.com/doc/111351581/Leveling-the-playing-field-an-economic-assessment-of-electricity-generation-in-Europe

21. For additional official information on Renewable Obligation (RO): www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/renew_obs/renew_obs.aspx

22. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), 2012, Public attitudes tracking survey: wave 1

23. DECC, 2012, Public attitudes tracking survey: wave 524. Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Community Liaison Group. 2008.

www.clocaenogclg.org.uk/images/tan_map.gif25. R Meir et al. 1996. The assessment and rating of noise from

wind farms. Technical Report ETSU-R-97, ETSU, Department of Trade and Industry.

26. Bristol UWE, 2007, Wind farms are good for tourism, University of the West of England, Bristol

27. MORI Scotland (2002) Tourist Attitudes Towards Wind Farms, for the Scottish Renewables Forum and the BWEA

28. Glasgow Caledonian University, 2008. The Economic Impact of Wind farms on Scottish Tourism: A report for the Scottish Government, p17

29. Sustainable Development Commission, 2005, Wind Power in the UK, p. 52

30. All other forms of fuel are finite and will run out: Oil first in 40-50 years (see consumption and reserves here: www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/pdf/0484(2013).pdf

31. New Scientist, 8 October 2012, The sickening truth about wind farm syndrome

32. Knopper LD and Ollson CA, 2011, Health effects and wind turbines: A review of the literature, Environmental Health 10:78

33. Irish Wind Energy Association, undated, Environmental impacts. Available at: www.iwea.com/index.cfm/page/environmentalimpacts

34. Tyndall Centre, updated, Decarbonising the UK: Energy for a climate conscious future

35. Guardian, 30 January 2013, Nuclear expansion plan thwarted after Cumbria no vote to underground store

36. Ynni Cymru, March 2013. Available at: www.ynnicymru.org.uk/blog/for-peats-sake/

37. Carbon Brief, February 2013. Available at: www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2013/02/site-windfarms-carefully,-for-peats-sake

38. Sovacool, B.K., 2009. Contextualizing avian mortality: A preliminary appraisal of bird and bat fatalities from wind, fossil-fuel, and nuclear electricity. Energy Policy, Vol. 37 (6), 2241 – 2248.

39. Centre for Sustainable Energy, May 2011, Common concerns about wind power

40. Langston, R.H.W. & Pullan, J.D. 2003. Windfarms and Birds: An analysis of the effects of wind farms on birds, and guidance on environmental assessment criteria and site selection issues; Drewitt, A. L. and Langston, R. H. W, 2006. Assessing the impacts of wind farms on birds. Ibis, 148: page 29–42

41. RSPB, undated, Wind farms policy: www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/windfarms/

42. Nuon, August 2010, Pen-y-Cymoedd wind energy project: Supplementary environmental information

43. European Environment Agency, 1 March 2013, Climate change and flood risk in European cities

Notes