Should the UK move towards wind energy as its primary energy source?
As fossil fuels are finite, wind energy is looked at as an alternative source of energy. Wind energy produces renewable energy through the extraction of air flow to create energy. Currently, the UK is the sixth largest producer of wind energy in the world (Global Wind Energy Outlook, 2014), however the questions remains whether the UK should continue to invest in wind power compared to other renewable sources of energy. The extraction of energy through wind has been proven to be environmentally friendlier than other sources of energy, through emitting less greenhouse gases and reducing water consumption. On the other hand, wind power is seen as too expensive, less reliable …show more content…
Wind turbines will work at their optimum level at 30mph, which is hardly reached in most places in the UK, and will not produce any energy at all if wind speeds are below 9 mph (EDF energy, 2010). This indicates the unreliability of wind energy compared to other forms renewable energy, as the uncertainty and unpredictability of wind energy makes it unreliable. In addition, ‘constraint payments’ have to be paid by the UK government in situations wind turbines produce too much energy. In March 2014 the UK paid £8.7 million to turn off wind turbines as abnormally high wind speeds caused the overproduction of energy (Renewable Energy Foundation. 2014). The unreliability of wind turbines makes it difficult for the UK to move towards wind power as its primary source of energy, as wind energy doesn’t offer the stability of energy production to the national …show more content…
Noise pollution is caused through the airflow going through the blades and from the mechanical noise of engine (Saidur, Rahim, Islam and Solangi, 2011). Hanning (2012) further suggests that wind turbine noise can have negative effect on the health of those residing close to wind farms, as noise from wind turbines can affect sleep of those close to it. Studies show that those residing within 375-1400m from a wind farm sleep worse and suffer more tiredness during the day compared to those that lived within 3-6.6km away from wind farms (Hanning, 2012). Moving the UK towards increased usage of wind power as the main source of energy would increase the development of wind farms near populated areas can affect the residents residing close to
As fossil fuels are finite, wind energy is looked at as an alternative source of energy. Wind energy produces renewable energy through the extraction of air flow to create energy. Currently, the UK is the sixth largest producer of wind energy in the world (Global Wind Energy Outlook, 2014), however the questions remains whether the UK should continue to invest in wind power compared to other renewable sources of energy. The extraction of energy through wind has been proven to be environmentally friendlier than other sources of energy, through emitting less greenhouse gases and reducing water consumption. On the other hand, wind power is seen as too expensive, less reliable …show more content…
Wind turbines will work at their optimum level at 30mph, which is hardly reached in most places in the UK, and will not produce any energy at all if wind speeds are below 9 mph (EDF energy, 2010). This indicates the unreliability of wind energy compared to other forms renewable energy, as the uncertainty and unpredictability of wind energy makes it unreliable. In addition, ‘constraint payments’ have to be paid by the UK government in situations wind turbines produce too much energy. In March 2014 the UK paid £8.7 million to turn off wind turbines as abnormally high wind speeds caused the overproduction of energy (Renewable Energy Foundation. 2014). The unreliability of wind turbines makes it difficult for the UK to move towards wind power as its primary source of energy, as wind energy doesn’t offer the stability of energy production to the national …show more content…
Noise pollution is caused through the airflow going through the blades and from the mechanical noise of engine (Saidur, Rahim, Islam and Solangi, 2011). Hanning (2012) further suggests that wind turbine noise can have negative effect on the health of those residing close to wind farms, as noise from wind turbines can affect sleep of those close to it. Studies show that those residing within 375-1400m from a wind farm sleep worse and suffer more tiredness during the day compared to those that lived within 3-6.6km away from wind farms (Hanning, 2012). Moving the UK towards increased usage of wind power as the main source of energy would increase the development of wind farms near populated areas can affect the residents residing close to