Windpower: Renewable Wind Energy

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines.

Although wind currently produces about 1% of world-wide electricity use,it accounts for approximately 19% of electricity production in Denmark, 9% in Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland (2007 data).

Advantages

• Wind is free, wind farms need no fuel.
• Produces no waste or greenhouse gases.
• The land beneath can usually still be used for farming.
• A good method of supplying energy to remote areas

Disadvantages

• The wind is not always predictable – some days have no wind.
• Suitable areas for wind farms are often near the coast, where land is expensive.
• Wind turbines are noisy. Each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car travelling at 70 mph.
  
• Many people see large wind turbines as unsightly structures and not pleasant or interesting to look at.
• They disfigure the countryside and are generally ugly.
  When wind turbines are being manufactured some pollution is produced. Therefore wind power does produce some pollution.