Welcome to our site LOLA (Leave Our Landscape Alone) is an action group formed during October 2011 to protest at the siteing of an industrial wind turbine at Hindles farm between Spinney Road, and the A607 Thorpe Arnold, Melton Mowbray Leicestershire.
LOLA Action Group does not oppose wind energy. On the contrary we broadly support wind energy's role in developing more sustainable sources of energy and in reducing CO2 emissions. Anyone objecting to a wind farm is open to the accusation of NIMBYism.
For a reasoned discussion of this, it's worth looking at Alexander Chancellor's Guardian article, which can be viewed here.
Any proposed development should be examined on its merits. We need to reduce CO2 emissions, but we need to do so on a relatively crowded island where the construction of large energy-generating facilities has to fit in with other environmental and human factors.
Off-shore vs On-shore Where wind farms are sited off-shore great numbers of larger turbines can be built to take advantage of strong and consistent winds.
However, where wind farms are sited on-shore they generate relatively small amounts of power and can have a major negative impact on people and the surrounding countryside. The benefits have to be weighed against the negative impact.
LOLA Action Group, strongly object to the proposed wind turbine at Hindles Farm primarily on the following grounds. We consider that these negative factors far outweigh the possible benefits:
They are far too close to habitation, being barely 600 metres from the nearest house. In close proximity to Chadwell, Thorpe Arnold, nearest village Waltham on the Wolds, much of which is a conservation area, accommodating listed buildings most of the houses will be affected by some or all of the following points.
They would create noise by day and night, thereby reducing the peaceful character of the area to the detriment of local residents - with possible adverse health implications.
There are potential health and safety risks from turbines collapsing, ice throw, and catching fire.
There are also potential problems due to sunlight flickering on the rotating blades.
They will adversely affect the amenity value and hence prices and saleability of local houses.
The construction/commissioning phase would involve deliveries of huge quantities of concrete for the foundations as well as larger vehicles delivering turbine sections.
Access from the A607 will cause considerable disruption during the delivery phase.
It would adversely affect the landscape setting by introducing massive, intrusive, industrial form out of scale and out of keeping with local historic buildings, field patterns and views.
In view of the profit motive and heavy subsidies, we believe that the environmental advantages of the proposed wind farm may be overstated.
There is considerable low level aerial activity in the region. Fast jets, large helicopters, and private planes the area is also a favourite with hot-air balloons and microlights .
It will have adverse effects on birdlife, bats and TV reception and can also affect radio and mobile phones.
The original application was submitted to Melton Borough Council on the 6th October 2011.
Ref: 11/00677/FUL
Case Officer: Mrs Denise Knipe
Proposal:
Erection of a 50 metre to hub height overall height approx 80 metres, single wind turbine generator with associated transformer, foundations, crane hard standing, access tracks, and a temporary construction compound.
Location:
Hindles Farm, Melton Spinney Road,Thorpe Arnold, Melton Mowbray.
Applicant:
Mr Steve Butler
We believe that the location and surrounding area is a beautiful part of the unspoilt Wolds keep it that way.
What can you do!
Get involved
Tell your neigbours!
Our aim is to ensure that all local residents are aware of these plans
You can help us by telling your neighbours about this site.
Sign our petition
Write to your MP and Melton planning department
Your MP is Alan Duncan (Conservative)
Email: [email protected]
Melton Borough Council planning and building control
Email: [email protected]
Lola Action Group Contact Details:
Chairman: Stuart Lomas Email:[email protected]
Vice Chair: karen Steel Email:[email protected]
Officer: Tony Walker Email:[email protected]
Secretary: Jill Cannon Malone Email:[email protected]
Ed Smiley Jones Email:[email protected]
Note!
All correspondance through Jill Cannon Malone please.
Noise Shadow flicker Property prices
The environment Where does the electricity go?
The Law Safety
Noise
Are wind turbines noisy?
Information on wind turbine noise usually takes one of two forms; websites funded by energy companies or the green lobby would have you believe that they are whisper quiet. Meanwhile, anti-wind farm websites may seem to exaggerate the problems. We have to say that before we started researching this area, we had assumed that perhaps the noise issue might not be too serious. However, we have been quite shocked by the sheer amount of evidence building up on the internet that turbine noise can cause really severe distress to those living in the area.
Some of the issues involved in measuring noise are quite technical and difficult to understand. We’ve tried to explain them as simply as possible, but there is still quite a lot of information on this page. Let’s start with some quick questions and answers:
Q: Do wind turbines produce noise?
A: Yes.
Q: Will this noise disturb me? Will it keep me awake?
A: We believe that it is very likely that some local residents will be disturbed both day and night.
Q: Are there any other health problems associated with wind farms?
A: Research has suggested that noise can cause a range of health problems.
Q: Are there rules governing noise?
A: Yes, but many people have argued that these do not provide local residents with protection from noise problems.
What types of noise will there be?
Construction noise
Because the turbines are so large, they need very deep foundations. This requires very large concrete pillars to be hammered deep into the ground. This is extremely noisy, and very annoying for those living nearby, but it will only be a temporary problem.
Mechanical noise
The internal workings of the turbine, such as the gearbox and the generator, will generate some mechanical noise. However, improvements in technology mean that this noise is likely to be quite minimal, and may not be heard even if you are standing quite close to the turbine.
Blade noise
Most of the noise generated by turbines comes from the movement of the blades through the air, particularly when they pass the tower. This can produce a deep pulsing / thumping noise which has been reported to carry over long distances. This low pulsing sound may penetrate the walls of houses, and has been reported to cause severe distress to some residents, preventing them from sleeping at night.
Infrasound
Infrasound is sound that you can’t hear. Yes, we know that seems strange, but remember, the human ear has a limited range. It can’t hear very high sounds (like a dog whistle) and it can’t hear very low sounds, like the very low frequency sounds which turbines can produce. Unfortunately, this does not mean that they are harmless.
Some people near wind turbines report feeling the vibrations in their body, rather than hearing them, which keeps them awake at night. Meanwhile there is scientific evidence to suggest that certain parts of the human body may be sensitive to these very low level vibrations. This may explain why some people living near turbines seem to experience a range of health issues, often quite non-specific, such as feelings of anxiety, or generally feeling unwell. The fact that these symptoms are quite general, and therefore difficult to link conclusively to wind turbines, means that the wind turbine industry continues to deny that infrasound can affect people.
How is the noise measured?
Noise is measured in decibels (dB), and environmental noise uses a special measurement called dBA.
Before the turbines are built, noise measurements should be taken from a variety of locations on and near the site. For example, measurements may be taken from the gardens of nearby properties. These are to work out the level of “background noise”. These measurements should be taken at a range of different wind speeds, since this can affect how much background noise there is. This level of background noise is expressed in dBA, e.g. 40dBA.
What are the guidelines about noise?
These are set out in a document called ETSU-R-97. This specifies that in general the noise generated by a wind turbine should be no louder than 5db above background noise. So for example, if the background noise is 40db, residents may hear 45db of noise including the turbines. Remember that an increase of 10db sounds like a doubling of the volume. However, in quiet areas, different rules apply. ETSU-R-97 recommends a daytime limit of between 35-40 dBA. At night however, the limit is 43dBA. Incredibly, this means that turbines are allowed to create more noise at night than during the day.
What problems are there with these guidelines?
There have been a large number of objections to ETSU-R-97. For example:
Will they keep me awake at night or disturb me?
Are there any effects on health
We would encourage you to have a good search around the internet, read both sides of the story, and make up your own mind. Here are some of the articles and downloads that we found useful while we were researching this page:
Measuring wind turbine noise
An interesting page from renewableenergyworld.com which explains why some people can find the noise from wind turbines annoying, even if the measurable noise isn't very high
"So if wind turbines aren't any louder than what we're already used to, why are people complaining about them?"
Aerodynamic Modulation noise
This document, published by Sadberge Parish Council, explains why turbines can make a low thumping noise, and why the rules governing noise will not protect residents from this problem.
"The noise monitoring recommended in ETSU-R-97 is totally ineffective in protecting residents from aerodynamic modulation noise..."
Sleep disturbance and wind turbine noise
A report by Dr C. Hanning, an expert in sleep disorders, stating that wind turbines can have a negative effect on sleep and so cause other health problems. It should be noted that Dr. Hanning was commissioned to write this report by an organisation campaigning against wind turbines in his local area. However, his qualifications and experience would seem to speak for themselves.
"There can be no doubt that groups of industrial wind turbines (“wind farms”) generate sufficient noise to disturb the sleep and impair the health of those living nearby."
Are wind farms a health risk? (NHS)
This page from the NHS considers an American study which linked sleep disturbance and other health problems to nearby wind turbines. While critising the design and small-scale nature of the study, the NHS notes that further study is needed in this area. This study was also reported in The Independent and The Daily Mail.
"It is physically and biologically plausible that low frequency noise generated by wind turbines can affect people..."
Environmental Protection UK
A letter written by the Chief Executive of Environmental Protection UK to Minister of State Chris Huhne. It asks for a review of the current noise guidelines, ETSU-R-97.
"...the public and professionals have no confidence in the current government endorsed guidance..."
MAS Environmental
A long and perhaps quite technical document which offers a detailed explanation of why the noise guidelines in ETSU-R-97 are flawed, and not appropriate in considering planning applications for large turbines.
"ETSU-R-97 is incapable of addressing the noise impact issues created by large turbines..."
Shadow flicker
Shadow flicker is the effect caused when the rotating blades of a wind turbine cast shadows. It doesn't sound like too much of a problem, but in reality the effect can be very unpleasant, as the video shows. The University of Nottingham has stated that the turbines can be shut down during periods when shadow flicker may affect nearby properties. However, it seems that problems with shadow flicker are not unheard of among those living near wind turbines.
Property prices
There is a great deal of conflicting evidence regarding the impact of wind turbines on property prices. At a recent public meeting, representatives of the university were questioned on this issue. They seemed unprepared for this, and declined to comment. It seems likely, however, that they will be better prepared next time and come armed with statistics and evidence in an attempt to suggest that wind farms have no negative effect on property values, or perhaps even that they can increase them.
In the interests of balance, we would like to put forward the opposite view; namely that the proposed wind turbines could have a devastating effect on the value of property in the area. In the meantime, if you're planning to sell your house, good luck. You'll need it.
What do estate agents and solicitors say?
Nothing good, it seems.
A study by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyers (RICS)
This 2007 study set out to determine whether the presence of wind turbines reduced the value of nearby properties. The researchers refer to their findings as "inconclusive"; however, this quote is taken from the study.
To download the study, click on the icon below.
"There is little point in continuing to market your property, as any serious purchaser will immediately be put off by the prospect of a nearby windfarm."
"Terraced houses sited within 1 mile of a wind farm were observed to be 54 per cent lower in value and semi detached houses within 1 mile of the nearest turbine were 35 per cent lower than similar houses at a distance of four miles."
Homeowners living near windfarms see property values plummet (The Telegraph)
"In a landmark case, Jane Davis was told she will get a discount on her council tax because her £170,000 home had been rendered worthless by a turbine 1,000 yards away."
You can look up the full article in the Telegraph.
"£170,000 home rendered worthless by a turbine 1,000 yards away."
The environment
The visual qualities of wind turbines are very much a matter of personal taste. Some find them elegant, whilst others simply find them ugly. One thing is certain; the character of the area would be drastically altered under the proposals to build these three 125 metre giants.
Even some environmental protection organisations recognise that despite the desire for more green energy, laws governing wind turbines are in need of change. Environmental Protection UK are now lobbying the government to review guidelines covering noise from wind turbines as they feel that these are inadequate.
Below is a letter from Environmental Protection UK to Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate change.
Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP
Minister of State DECC
1 Whitehall Place London SW1A 2AW
7th June 2010.
Dear Chris Huhne
Congratulations on your recent re-election and on your appointment as Secretary for Energy and Climate Change.
I am also writing to invite you to meet us to discuss some of the issues linked to energy, climate change, and local environmental quality, which will be challenging Westminster as we work to secure our energy infrastructure.
As you know, Environmental Protection UK works nationally in the field of local environmental quality, specifically on noise, air quality and land quality. Climate change is a key issue facing the UK and the world; however in a financially constrained environment it is important that climate change does not crowd out the environmental and social issues that have a direct impact on the health and well being of both people and ecosystems – and we believe that we can address climate change and maintain good quality, healthy local environments with well managed development.
Wind Turbine Noise Guidance - Planning Inspector Rejections
In particular, the previous government singularly failed to address the significant problem that has become apparent with the current outdated government approved guidance for the assessment and prediction of wind turbine noise. This despite repeated representations from ourselves and others, and an increasingly long list of protracted and costly planning battles involving communities, local authorities and developers. Recent decisions demonstrate that, increasingly, planning inspectors do not accept that the government recommended guidance, ETSU-R-97, provides an adequate assessment and are refusing applications where ETSU has been used, as they are not confident that adequate protection is provided. While the UK does have a significant wind resource, we are also a small, densely populated island, with a housing shortfall and a decreasing resource when it comes to rural areas that can truly be regarded as quiet or tranquil. Therefore, we remain somewhat astonished that to date, the issue of ensuring a sound assessment method for potential impacts has been totally neglected.
We believe progress towards meeting the Government‟s renewable energy targets can only be reached if the best information currently available both on potential generating capacity and on 2 potential impacts on health and local environmental quality is taken into account in the consideration of all applications – currently this is not the case.
In particular, we draw your attention to recent cases. Earlier this year the planning inspector upheld the decision of Bradford1 MBC to refuse permission for a 120m turbine, considering the evidence of noise impact gathered by the local authority to be a more honest assessment of impact than that carried out by consultants using ETSU-R-97. In Grise in the Lake District, a refusal on noise grounds, where ETSU had been used, was endorsed by the Secretary of State, and in Bedford, where the „IOA agreement‟ version of ETSU was used, the planning accept refused an application saying that the methodology used „did not appear to be endorsed by further research‟. These cases demonstrate that inappropriate guidance is misleading and costly for applicants, and that the issue needs to be urgently taken in hand.
Local opposition to wind turbines can only grow and planning refusals continue as it is demonstrably the case that the public and professionals have no confidence in the current government endorsed guidance. If disagreements over the extent and nature of potential impacts can be reduced, decision-making can properly focus on the balance between local and wider interests. Given the history to date, this will only happen if a methodology for assessing impacts is used that is agreed and accepted by consultants, local authority planners and noise specialists and developers and is perceived by professionals and the public to be credible.
Our factual basis for seeking a review of ETSU-R-97, as put to the previous government is as follows:
ETSU-R-97 was drafted with input from specialists in acoustics in the light of „best available guidance at the time‟ and in itself anticipated that it would need to be revised within two years.
ETSU-R-97 has now been „adapted‟ in an ad hoc way2 by practising acousticians (some of whom were involved in drafting the original guidance) to enable its continued use - we believe this alone demonstrates that in its original form it is no longer fit for purpose and requires revision.
The existence of what is in effect an alternative version of ETSU-R-97 – the so called common ground guidance drawn up by noise specialists working in the field, supports this view. Use of this in practice, diverging as it does from the original guidance accepted by government, is leading to further confusion and delay in planning inquiries, and refusals.
The draft National Policy Statement for Renewables3 states that “The applicant’s assessment of noise from the operation of the wind turbines should use ETSU-R-97 in accordance with latest industry good practice which should reflect any updated guidance issued in relation to ETSU-R-97 and accepted by Government.” We contend that updated guidance should be issued and accepted by Government as soon as is practically possible.
We do not agree that there is no evidence that Amplitude Modulation is a result of turbine size.
Currently there are limited, if any, provisions in place for remedy for any impacts on neighbours of wind farms (foreseen or unforeseen). We accept that some impacts may be unavoidable as an industrial infrastructure is developed to meet future energy needs within climate change constraints – and where this undesirable situation arises,
compensatory mechanism should be in place for neighbours who suffer significant adverse effects. This expresses the „polluter pays‟ principle, which we understand is Government policy.
Finally, we quote Peter Luff MP, who in presenting his Private Members‟ Bill in the Commons on 3rd November6 stated “There are different concerns about wind farms. Noise, especially low-frequency noise, the flicker effect and the resulting health implications are just some of those concerns. I have been impressed by the personal accounts of such concerns in many of the hundreds of e-mails that I have received. However, although the science may not yet be settled on those matters, the visual intrusion of wind turbines is a matter of objective fact."
In summary, in view of the obvious concerns about noise impacts, would you not agree that a further effort to bring the science to a more settled position, to the best of our current ability, and subject to review as further knowledge is developed, would enable the potential impacts of wind turbines to be more properly and effectively considered, that more prolonged planning battles are avoided and that a renewable energy infrastructure can be established with the best possible protection of local environmental quality? Until such time as this is the case, the controversy and delay will continue to be a costly hindrance development. We trust that you will understand the very strong case for swift revision of ETSU-R-97.
Environmental Protection UK are working to find constructive ways forward and are planning a workshop on wind turbines in the autumn to bring specialists and stakeholders together and support our local authority members, communities and industry in promoting better understanding of the issues. We hope that by then progress will have been made towards better, up to date guidance, and will be contacting DECC when we have fixed a date, to present current government thinking on the issue.
If you are able to meet with us, please contact my PA, Samantha Stille, on 01273 878775; [email protected] to arrange the details. I look forward to hearing from you.
With kind regards
Philip Mulligan
Chief Executive
Environmental Protection UK
Cc Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Cc Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
1. Bradford case refused on appeal - http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/5006245.Appeal_over_2m_turbine_in_Bradford_dismissed/
2. Prediction and Assessment of Wind Turbine Noise, Bowdler et al, Acoustics Bulletin, March/April
3. Draft National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN-3)
4. Wind Shear, Andrew Bullmore, IOA Wind Turbine Noise Conference, Jan 2008
5. Large Wind Turbines – Are they too big for ETSU – R – 97 – Mike Stigwood, IOA Wind Turbine Noise Conference, Jan 2008
6. Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091103/debtext/91103- 0009.htm#091103125000001
Where does the electricity go?
Are we going to see locally generated renewable energy benefiting the local community? Err... no.
"The great thing about this is that the electricity doesn't just get fed into the national grid, where it sort of gets lost in all the other electricity.
The law
Can they just go ahead and build the turbines?
No, they can't. Planning permission is required.
Is there a law about the distance between turbines and houses?
The short answer is no. “There is no minimum separation distance in English planning law or guidance."(1) Instead, the planning process considers the distances between turbines and nearby properties in relation to guidelines covering noise.
How do we compare to other countries?
Many countries recommend minimum distances between large wind turbines and properties. For example, “Scotland suggests 2 km separation, largely because of the visual effect, and Wales 500 metres.” “Denmark is one of the most successful countries in the development of onshore wind power… if Danish rules applied…many householders would become liable for compensation for loss of property value.
Will I be compensated if my property drops in value?
No. There is no compensation for those living near a wind farm.
What about noise?
There are published guidelines regarding wind farm noise.
The government has recently commissioned further research on the impact of noise, but it is not known when this will be published.
What is the current government’s policy?
The current coalition government is strongly in favour of renewable energy projects, including wind power. However, early this year, the Conservatives indicated that wind farms are not appropriate in places where local communities object strongly: “On-shore wind farms are not appropriate in all settings: local community consent is vital, and applications will need to be considered in the light of the possible impact on the local environment.
Is the law going to change in the future?
A bill was recently introduced in the House of Lords which aims to set minimum distances between turbines and residential properties. This minimum distances would depend on the size of the turbines. In the case of the turbines proposed for the Hindles Farm site, the minimum distance would be ? metres. A date for the second reading of the bill has yet to be announced.
A separate bill was recently introduced in the House of Commons which, if it becomes law, will give local authorities the power to specify minimum distances between turbines and residential properties.(5) This bill is due for its second reading in June 2011.
References:
1 Barclay, C. (2010) Wind Farms - Distance from housing. House of Commons library
2 Luff, P. cited in Barclay. op.cit.
3 Barclay, op. cit.
4 Conservatives (2010) Open Source Planning Policy Green Paper No. 14
5 www.parliament.co.uk Onshore wind turbines (Proximity of Habitation) Bill 2010-2011
Wind turbine safety
Modern wind turbines are obviously designed with safety in mind. For example, they may have atmospheric sensors to detect when ice may form on the blades. In such conditions, the turbine should shut down to prevent "ice throw" - chunks of ice being flung from the blades at high velocity.
Despite these precautions, accidents can, and do happen. The Caithness Wind Farm Information Forum has compiled accident statistics; here is what they have to say:
"The trend is as expected - as more turbines are built, more accidents occur. Numbers of recorded accidents reflect this, with an average of 16 accidents per year from 1995-99 inclusive; 48 accidents per year from 2000-04 inclusive, and 105 accidents per year from 2005-09 inclusive. Indeed over the past three years (2007-09) the average has been 124 accidents per year."
Myths about wind energy
The British Wind Energy Association (now RenewableUK) published what it called the ‘Top Myths about Wind Energy’ and what it claimed were the true ‘facts’.
These are still on its website, where they are trotted out by green organisations in defence of wind farms.
Below, we provide a set of independent comments which show how the BWEA has been selective in its answers and economic with the truth.
You should be aware that the BWEA is not an academic or philanthropic body looking after the interests of the Earth and the British people. It is a trade body with over 500 member companies, all of whom seek to make profits from renewables, especially wind farms. While there is nothing wrong with this, it does mean that the BWEA are not a neutral body and are, therefore, most likely to provide partial information that is most likely to further their member’s profits and interests rather than promote the truth.
BWEA Note: The 'average modern wind turbine' referred to in this document has a rated capacity of 1.8 megawatts (MW) onshore. Data on consented projects and applications currently being progressed shows that this will increase to over 2 MW in the near future. Offshore, turbines currently being installed are rated at 3 MW, and it is expected that this will rise to a typical 5 MW per machine by 2010.
"Tens of thousands of wind turbines will be cluttering the British countryside"
BWEA says
Government legislation requires that by 2010, 10% of electricity supply must come from renewable sources. Wind power is currently the most cost effective renewable energy technology in a position to help do that. Around 3,500 additional modern wind turbines are all that would be needed to deliver 8% of the UK's electricity by 2010, roughly 2,000 onshore and 1,500 offshore.
Independent comment
The 3,500 turbines are ADDITIONAL (as stated) which would bring the total to 5,500 in the UK by 2010. However, the Government wants 20% by 2020 – or another 5,500 turbines on the BWEA’s calculations. In addition, to reach the EUs target of 20% of ALL energy by 2020 would require 40% of electricity to come from renewables because such large savings in other sectors such as air transport, railways and vehicles is impossible. That would rack the number up to 22,000 turbines!
On December 10th 2007, John Hutton MP suggested we build 7,000 5MW wind turbines round the coast of Britain by 2020. As there are only around 4,000 days left until then, that means two a day for the next 12 years! How crazy can politicians get. He is talking about structures nearing the size of Blackpool tower to be erected in a hostile sea where work is only possible 5-6 months of the year. This must be one of the most ludicrous political blusters of all time. This aim was reaffirmed in a press release from the Crown Estate which marked the launch of round 3 of off-shore wind farm licensing for 25GW, bringing the total to 33GW by 2020. To replace our nuclear power stations alone with wind turbines would take between 10,000 and 15,000 turbines. In fact any number of wind turbines could only produce electricity when the wind blew and are incapable of delivering base load power which is provided mostly by nuclear power stations.
"Wind farms won't help fight climate change"
BWEA says
Wind power is a clean, renewable source of energy which produces no greenhouse gas emissions or waste products. The UK currently emits 560 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), the key greenhouse gas culprit, every year and the Government target is to cut this by 60% by 2050. Power stations are the largest contributor to carbon emissions, producing 170 million tonnes of CO2 each year. We need to switch to forms of energy that do not produce CO2. Just one modern wind turbine will save over 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Independent comment
We agree that at the point of generation wind power produces no CO2 and is renewable. However, wind will only save significant amounts of CO2 if it leads to the shut down coal or gas-fired power stations. But because of its intermittency (i.e. when the wind does not blow or blows at a speed below peak power provision) this cannot happen to any significant extent and some back-up power stations have to be kept at the ready either as ‘hot spinning reserve’ which can take over at 5 minutes notice, or as ‘standby’ which needs warming and several hours notice before it is available.
One modern 1.8MW turbine will NOT save over 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emission a year. This figure has been arrived at by multiplying the electricity generated by a CO2 ‘savings factor’ of 0.86 tonnes per megawatt hour (MWh). This figure is no longer accepted by the Government, the Carbon Trust, Ofgem (the electricity regulator), DEFRA, or the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the DTI). Most of these organisations now use a ‘savings factor’ of 0.45t/MWh though press releases from the Energy Minister are now using 0.37t/MWh. This reduces the ‘savings’ from 4,068 tonnes to either 2,128 tonnes (0.45 factor) or 1,750 tonnes (0.37 factor). In reality it is even less than this after the CO2 released in manufacturing, erecting, maintaining, turbines and making allowance for the hot spinning reserve or standby power are deducted.
Notably the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld complaints against wind farm companies on several occasions, finding them guilty of misrepresentating the CO2 savings when they use the figure of 0.86t/MWh. The wind energy industry knows it is guilty as it effectively acknowledged this in a recent industry publication and specifically on the BWEA’s web site where it committed itself to the agreement of new figures with the ASA.
In November 2008, after lengthy negotiations with the ASA the BWEA agreed to adopt the figure of 0.43t/MWh for calculating carbon savings They did so grudgingly and in their press release said it had come about because of ‘pressure from objectors’. Their web site has now been changed to show the new figures. At a stroke this means that it will take twice as many turbines to achieve and given CO 2 reduction target at twice the cost per tonne.
"Building a wind farm takes more energy than it ever makes"
BWEA says
The average wind farm will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within 3-5 months of operation. This compares favourably with coal or nuclear power stations, which take about six months. A modern wind turbine is designed to operate for more than 20 years and at the end of its working life, the area can be restored at low financial and environmental costs. Wind energy is a form of development which is essentially reversible – in contrast to fossil fuel or nuclear power stations.
Independent comment
Reference 4 quoted above is a paper by Milborrow who used to work for the BWEA. A graph in that paper compares the pay back time of several forms of electricity generation. Wind power is shown as a minimum time of about 4 months and a range up to 34 months. This is at variance with the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Report which used figures of 1 to 3 years. The reason for this wide range is not clear but the higher figures probably include a component for transportation of the turbines by sea and lorry and mining iron ore for steel manufacture. However, figures very much higher than 3 years can occur if a wind farm is built on peat soil where there is significant release of CO2 from peat damaged during draining of the site and road construction. This is now a major concern in both Scotland and the EU and is one of the reasons that the Isle of Lewis wind farm was turned down in early 2008.
We agree that a modern wind turbine can be removed after 25 years much more easily than a nuclear power station. However, it is more likely that they will not be removed at all but will be repowered (i.e. old turbines removed and replaced by even larger ones as has happened already at some locations such as Caton Moor in Lancashire). Further, the footprint of visual landscape damage by wind farms spreads over hundreds of square kilometers compared to just a few for conventional power stations.
"Wind farms are inefficient and only work 30% of the time"
BWEA says
A modern wind turbine produces electricity 70-85% of the time, but it generates different outputs depending on the wind speed. Over the course of a year, it will typically generate about 30% of the theoretical maximum output. This is known as its load factor. The load factor of conventional power stations is on average 50%. A modern wind turbine will generate enough to meet the electricity demands of more than a thousand homes over the course of a year.
Independent comment
Many people campaigning against wind farms confuse the 30% load factor with the amount of time for which a wind turbine produces some electricity (70 to 85%).
So in this case, the BWEA are right but, as usual, fail to tell the whole truth. They do not explain that based on the wind speed frequency in the UK and the power curve for a 2.5MW turbine, wind farms will generate nothing at all on 15 to 30% of the days. This translates to 55 to 110 days a year depending on the windiness of the site. Even worse, for 110 to over 250 day a year the power output will be less than 25% of the installed capacity. For all those days coal or gas fired power stations will have to provide the electricity using spinning reserve or back-up power stations. The only renewables that can give near 100% availability are hydroelectricity and biomass, though the latter has other serious environmental and social problems associated with it.
"Wind energy needs back-up to work"
BWEA says
All forms of power generation require back up and no energy technology can be relied upon 100%. The UK's transmission system already operates with enough back-up to manage the instantaneous loss of a large power station. Variations in the output from wind farms are barely noticeable over and above the normal fluctuation in supply and demand, seen when the nation's workforce goes home, or if lightning brings down a high-voltage transmission line. Therefore, at present there is no need for additional back-up because of wind energy. Even for wind power to provide 10% of our nation's electricity needs, only a small amount of additional conventional back-up would be required, in the region of 300-500 megawatts (MW). This would add only 0.2 pence per kilowatt hour to the generation cost of wind energy and would not in any way threaten the security of our grid. In fact, this is unlikely to become a significant issue until wind generates over 20% of total electricity supply.
Independent comment
The BWEA are largely correct – our Grid system has to have back-up whether we have wind farms or not. The amount of back-up has varied in recent years to as much as 25% of our peak requirements but is now about 15% due to the closure of many older plants. However, a strong case has been made out that once electricity from wind power reaches 15% of our needs (it is currently between 1 and 2%) or about 15 gigawatts the National Grid will be destabilized and there will be frequent blackouts. Paradoxically, as the Oxford economist Dieter Helm, has pointed out, we may need to build more conventional power stations to allow us to have ‘windmills’. According to Paul Golby (Eon UK’s Chief Executive) it would take 50 gigawatts of renewable electricity generation to meet the EU’s 2020 target. This would require up to 90% of this amount as backup from coal and gas plants to ensure supply when intermittent renewable supplies were not available. That would push Britain's installed power base up by a massive 44GW from the existing 76 gigawatts to 120 gigawatts at astronomical cost.
"Installing wind farms will never shut down power stations"
BWEA says
The simple fact is that power plants in the UK are being shut down, either through European legislation on emissions or sheer old age. We need to act now to find replacement power sources: wind is an abundant resource, indigenous to the UK and therefore has a vital role to play in the new energy portfolio.
Independent comment
In May 2007 the UK had 18 coal, 49 gas, 10 nuclear, and 81 hydroelectric and pumped storage power stations and about 40 burning waste, oil or diesel. Of course these numbers change as old stations are scrapped and new ones built, for example in January 2008 the UK had 5 new gas-fired power stations under construction, 3 approved at planning and 7 awaiting approval. However, wind farms can never lead to the closure of a polluting power station because the more wind that is installed the MORE back-up conventional power stations are needed – NOT LESS – see previous ‘Myth’. This is because wind is entirely unreliable (termed undespatchable by the Government as it is not available on demand but only when it is windy). This was confirmed recently] when Christopher Barton (Director of the UK Renewables Energy Strategy Project) said, ‘…the intermittency issue is not an insurmountable one, albeit that surmounting the problem comes at a cost so, for example, there will need to be greater overall generation capacity in the UK as you introduce more intermittent generation…’ [i.e. wind]. There you have it; the chief claim of wind protagonists that wind allows you to close dirty coal and gas to save CO2 is not supported.
"Wind power is expensive"
BWEA says
The cost of generating electricity from wind has fallen dramatically over the past few years. Between 1990 and 2002, world wind energy capacity doubled every three years and with every doubling prices fell by 15%. Wind energy is competitive with new coal and new nuclear capacity, even before any environmental costs of fossil fuel and nuclear generation are taken into account. The average cost of generating electricity from onshore wind is now around 3-4p per kilowatt hour, competitive with new coal (2.5-4.5p) and cheaper than new nuclear (4-7p). As gas prices increase and wind power costs fall – both of which are very likely – wind becomes even more competitive, so much so that some time after 2010 wind should challenge gas as the lowest cost power source. Furthermore, the wind is a free and widely available fuel source, therefore once the wind farm is in place, there are no fuel or waste related costs.
Independent comment
The above answer is largely correct. With the recent sharp rises in coal and gas prices (which are linked to the oil price) wind power has become much more competitive. It also benefits because the fuel (wind) is free and is not linked to international market trends. However, wind-generated electricity still receives a substantial subsidy in the form of one Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) for each megawatt hour generated. This ROC can be sold to the highest bidder, most likely to be one of the big power companies. Ofgem recently stated that wind companies could now make as much as £100 per MWh compared with conventional generation (coal, gas) which can only make around £35/MWh. These additional prices for wind-generated power are added to the household bills of consumers. ALL consumers are paying this premium which has reached over £1.1 billion a year already. Green tariff subscribers who think they are saving the planet are not paying anywhere near the value of the electricity they are using – we subsidise it. Notably, Denmark has almost the highest electricity costs despite have 6,000 wind turbines capable of generating up to 20% of its peak demand when the wind blows.
"The UK should invest in other renewable energy technologies"
BWEA says
Wind energy's role in combating climate change is not a matter of either/or. The UK will need a mix of new and existing renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures, and as quickly as possible. Significant amounts of investment have been allocated for wave and tidal energy development, and these technologies, along with solar and biomass energy, will have an important role in the UK's future energy mix. However, wind energy is the most cost effective renewable energy technology available to generate clean electricity and help combat climate change right now. Furthermore, developing a strong wind industry will facilitate other renewable technologies which have not reached commercialisation yet, accumulating valuable experience in dealing with issues such as grid connection, supply chain and finance.
Independent comment
Yes the UK should be doing much more to help other renewables develop but all, including wind, can play little part in combating climate change – now or in the future. Also they will contribute even less as our generation mix becomes cleaner (e.g. nuclear, gas, coal with carbon capture and storage) – see note on Question 2. If CO2 really is driving climate change then there are much better ways of dealing with it than destroying our most valued landscapes. For example, homes generate 84 million tonnes of CO2 a year. If each of us saved 10% of our power (not a lot to ask) that would amount to 8.4 million tonnes. The entire Government target for electricity from renewables by 2010 is a saving of 9.2 million tonnes. So we could save it all with not a wind turbine in sight. The UK has also saved 10.6 million tonnes in 2007 by switching from coal to gas generation and by using less fossil fuel in our homes and industry - again exceeding our 2010 target.
The BWEA are engaging in wishful thinking when they say there has been significant investment in other renewables. The amounts are but a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed and wind energy may be the most cost effective but it is the best of a very dismal lot. All renewables have problems of intermittency and can never be relied upon when needed. Even the Government says they are ‘non-dispatchable’ – which means not available on demand. With new initiatives for home and business insulation, improved efficiency of the engines in cars and lorries, better public transport, and so on we can save all the CO2 necessary without resorting to wind farms.
"Wind farms should all be put out at sea"
BWEA says
We will need a mix of both onshore and offshore wind energy to meet the UK's challenging targets on climate change. At present, onshore wind is more economical than development offshore. However, more offshore wind farms are now under construction, with the first of the large-scale projects operational at the end of 2003, and prices will fall as the industry gains more experience. Furthermore, offshore wind farms take longer to develop, as the sea is inherently a more hostile environment. To expect offshore to be the only form of wind generation allowed would therefore be to condemn us to missing our renewable energy targets and commitment to tackle climate change.
Independent comment
Once again the first sentence is wrong as wind farms (whether on- or off-shore) will do almost nothing to combat climate change. So the argument as to where they should be is irrelevant. Having said that, off-shore wind turbines are about twice as expensive as those on-shore (about £2.5 million per MW offshore compared to £1.25 per MW onshore). This no doubt contributed to Shell’s decision to pull out of the huge Thames Array wind farm.
"Wind farms are ugly and unpopular"
CWEA says
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and whether you think a wind turbine is attractive or not will always be your personal opinion. However, studies regularly show that most people find turbines an interesting feature of the landscape. On average 80% of the public support wind energy, less than 10% are against it, with the remainder undecided. Surveys conducted since the early 1990's across the country near existing wind farms have consistently found that most people are in favour of wind energy, with support increasing among those living closer to the wind farms.
Independent comment
We agree that this is a subjective, personal matter. If someone says they like wind turbines it is impossible to argue with them. There are certainly many opinion polls that show that most people support wind farms. However, the studies cited above in the early 1990s are so out of date and the turbines so small that they have no relationship to today’s monsters. Having campaigned across much of northern England and Scotland, it is abundantly clear to FELLS that once people are given all the facts rather than wind industry spin, they are mostly opposed to wind farms. And people should be proud to be a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard). As Dr Valerie Carril (University of Barcelona) said; Nimbys are in fact protecting the whole community from decisions that might not be in the best interests of the locality. The interest of the developer is obviously to make a profit but will they do anything for the quality of life of the rest of the community? The answer is often NO, and so protesters are an essential part of getting the proper arguments and merits of any plan discussed’.
"Wind farms negatively affect tourism"
BWEA says
There is no evidence to suggest this. The UK's first commercial wind farm at Delabole received 350,000 visitors in its first ten years of operation, while 10,000 visitors a year come to take the turbine tour at the EcoTech Centre in Swaffham, Norfolk. A MORI poll in Scotland showed that 80% of tourists would be interested in visiting a wind farm. Wind farm developers are often asked to provide visitor centres, viewing platforms and rights of way to their sites.
Independent comment
Neither Delabole nor Swaffham visitors centres were a success. At various times both needed local authority cash bail-outs and both eventually went bankrupt to be reopened in a different guise. Of the 150+ wind farms in the UK virtually none has a viewing platform or a visitor’s centre. Of course many people would find a visit to a wind farm interesting – out of curiosity if nothing else – but that does not justify covering the countryside with them. Of greater importance is the effect of wind farms on income from tourists. Several reports have studied this issue, and concluded that up to 18% of tourists would not revisit a location if wind farms proliferated. This may seem a small proportion but with a scenic county like Cumbria where tourism income amounts to £1.2 billion a year, the loss of 15% would amount to £180 million of lost revenue together with hundreds of associated jobs. The same would apply to other scenic centers in Scotland, the West Country, Wales and elsewhere. In fact a Scottish study (footnote 18) found that ‘….a significant minority (20% to 30%) of tourists preferred landscapes without windfarms’. In an internet survey in the same study, 17.8% said they would not visit an area if a wind farm was constructed. These figures are inconsistent with their evidence from a literature review that ‘…overall there is no evidence to suggest a serious economic impact of wind farms on tourists’. It is all very well for wind companies who make their millions from wind farms to play down these effects, but in doing so they put at risk the livelihoods of many other people trying to make an honest living.
"Wind farms harm property prices"
BWEA says
There is currently no evidence in the UK showing that wind farms impact house prices. However, there is evidence following a comprehensive study by the Scottish Executive that those living nearest to wind farms are their strongest advocates.
Indepdendent comment
Here the BWEA is simply not telling the truth. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has carried out a survey of their members . They found that 60% of the sample reported that ‘…windfarms decreased the value of residential properties where the development is within view’. They also found that the negative impact continues after construction is completed but ‘…becomes less severe after two years or so…’.The number of properties affected varied across the Regions from about 75% in the South West to 40% in Wales. The RICS did not say by how much the value decreased. In a 2007 survey this same Institution with the Oxford Brookes University stated "…as more wind farms are built, more property will become proximate. Therefore, a cautious approach should be adopted..."
In a court case in Cumbria, the purchasers of a property near Barrow were awarded 20% of the value in damages plus costs because they were not told that a wind farm was to be built close by. This indicates that this judge considered a devaluation of 20%. In this same area several houses have also had their Council Tax bands reduced. As this is calculated on the value of the property, it implies a loss in value and amenity.
Where a specific issue affects a property (e.g. noise, flicker) its marketability can be seriously compromised. A recent letter from an estate agent to the Davis family, who have been driven from their home near Spalding, Lincolnshire, comments as follows on the problem caused by the nearby wind farm: "I do not believe any prospective purchaser would want to inhabit the property, or indeed in the current climate whether any mortgage lender would be prepared to lend on the property... I am therefore sorry to say that I find myself in the rare situation of having to decline any instructions to market the above property."
Government itself has now acknowledged this damage to amenity and value by conceding that a Council Tax discount may be given for ‘Property affected by the proximity of an electricity generating wind turbine’+
"Wind farms kill birds"
BWEA says
The RSPB stated in its 2004 information leaflet Wind farms and birds, that "in the UK, we have not so far witnessed any major adverse effects on birds associated with wind farms". Wind farms are always subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment and BWEA members follow the industry's Best Practice Guidelines and work closely with organisations such as English Nature and the RSPB to ensure that wind farm design and layout does not interfere with sensitive species or wildlife designated sites. Moreover, a recent report published in the journal Nature confirmed that the greatest threat to bird populations in the UK is climate change.[35]
Independent comment
The impact of wind farms on birds depends very much on individual site characteristics. Certainly for small, typical lowland wind farms in Britain there is little evidence of bird deaths. However, there is a significant risk if wind farms are sited on migration routes, near major foraging grounds, between feeding grounds and roosting sites, or near important breeding grounds. If a wind farm site is carefully selected and avoids these sensitive areas then the risk of collision can be considerably reduced. Examples of inappropriate sites include Barvas Moor on the Isle of Lewis which is both a rare and protected blanket bog with deep peat as well as an important bird habitat. The RSPB objected throughout to this application, which was finally turned down in early 2008, as well as to the Pairc application for 53 turbines in central Lewis, the home of a growing Sea Eagle population. A second site that has proved disastrous is the Island of Smøla off Norway. Here a wind farm has killed many Sea Eagles and driven many others away since it began operating in 2005. The RSPB said ‘In short, the Smøla wind farm has caused birds to die and driven many others away with no evidence that they are breeding elsewhere’.
Perhaps of greater concern is disruption to and loss of habitat. The major construction activities needed to erect a wind farm often damage sensitive sites and introduce an element of human intrusion into what are often remote and peaceful locations. Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are especially vulnerable. It is strictly against EU legislation to build a wind farm within these areas or on land adjacent to them where an impact can be expected. Unfortunately, especially in Scotland, these regulations are often ignored. The RSPB agrees with these statements and said ‘…evidence from Spain and the US confirms that poorly sited wind farms can cause severe problems for birds, through disturbance, habitat loss/damage or collision with turbines’.
Though not mentioned by BWEA, bats are perhaps at much greater risk than birds. There are many reported instances of large number of bat kills around turbines built on their foraging grounds (often ridges). This may be due to air turbulence (vortices) near wind turbines which cause them to loose flight control, or to their inability to correctly echo-locate a fast-moving curved turbine blade. As all species of bat in the UK are protected, this is a significant concern.
The BWEA comment on climate change may be true but as wind farms make almost no contribution to addressing this problem, the remark is redundant in the context of birds.
"Wind farms are dangerous to humans"
BWEA says
Wind energy is a benign technology with no associated emissions, harmful pollutants or waste products. In over 25 years and with more than 68,000 machines installed around the world, no member of the public has ever been harmed by the normal operation of wind turbines. In response to recent unscientific accusations that wind turbines emit infrasound and cause associated health problems, Dr Geoff Leventhall, Consultant in Noise Vibration and Acoustics and author of the Defra Report on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects[41], says: "I can state quite categorically that there is no significant infrasound from current designs of wind turbines. To say that there is an infrasound problem is one of the hares which objectors to wind farms like to run. There will not be any effects from infrasound from the turbines."
Independent comment
Leventhall might be right but his results would be believed far more if he was not closely associated with the wind industry. A recent report from Salford University found noise problems in some 10 or so UK wind farms but refused to say which they were thus making checking the data impossible. One of the authors of this report also makes a living by representing wind power companies at Public Inquiries and so is not independent.
"Wind farms are noisy"
BWEA says
The evolution of wind farm technology over the past decade has rendered mechanical noise from turbines almost undetectable with the main sound being the aerodynamic swoosh of the blades passing the tower. There are strict guidelines on wind turbines and noise emissions to ensure the protection of residential amenity. These are contained in the scientifically informed ETSU Working Group guidelines 1996 and must be followed by wind farm developers, as referenced in national planning policy for renewables18. The best advice for any doubter is to go and hear for yourself!
Independent comment
While wind turbines have improved, the problem of noise remains. The industry standard (ETSU-R-97) was prepared in the mid-1990s when turbines were quite small. Today a typical turbine can be 100-125 metres high (328-410 feet). Hence the guidelines have not kept up with the technology and are, to all intents and purposes, out of date. Following out of date guidelines – even strictly - is useless for everyone concerned.
Experience also shows that wind farm noise is very hard to predict. Even a modern wind farm like Wharrels Hill (Cumbria) which began operation in 2007 is causing major problems for some residents in the nearby town of Bothel, while a wind farm at Deeping St Nicholas (Lincolnshire) has caused the residents of a nearby farm to move out of their home.
The BWEA says you should go and listen for yourself. That is quite difficult to do as you have to choose a day when the wind is strong enough, blowing from the right direction and then stand in the right place. The wind industry often says you can hold a normal conversation when standing right under a turbine. True - but that is not the problem. It is when standing at 500 to 1,500 metres away that the compressive thump as the blades pass the towers is heard or the low frequency vibrations are felt. Recently in a further report by van den Berg et al, noise was found to be the most annoying aspect of wind turbine proximity.
To deal with the problem of noise, Planning Authorities and Inspectors often attach conditions. Recently a High Court case found that the conditions were ‘unenforceable’ and the matter was referred back to the Secretary of State for ‘redetermination’. Even more recently, the Local Government Ombudsman found that the noise conditions attached to a wind farm were ‘vague, open to interpretation, immeasurable and thus unenforceable’. This has now been referred to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
All this could be avoided if the recommendation of the British Noise Association was followed[48], namely that the minimum distance for a wind farm from a dwelling should be 1 mile.
Concluding Independent Comment
It will be apparent from the above well referenced Independent Comments that the BWEA has been very frugal with the truth in many of its ‘Facts’. Any reasonably fair and impartial reader can only draw one conclusion, namely that the commercial interests of the BWEA and its members over-ride those of members of the public and in so doing misrepresent the real deficiencies of wind farms.
How safe is a wind turbine?
According to published data, not very safe at all. Over the passed 10 years the number of accidents has increased from an average of 16.0 accidents per year to the latest figures up-to 30th September 2009 on average of 66.9 per year being reported and let us not forgets that on average only 40% of all accidents are ever reported.
These accidents include 65 fatalities, 37 human injuries, 158 separate blade failures, 133 turbine fire incidents, 75 structural failures, and 27 incidents of ice throw similar to the ice falling from the Severn Bridge. There have been 42 reported transport accidents including a house being rammed through by a turbine section a transporter hitting a utility pole and pushing it through a restaurant and an incident of a turbine failing off in a tunnel; there have been a further 56 environmental damage accidents including bird deaths, the majority since 2007 and a further 86 miscellaneous accidents that cover a multitude of incidents from lack of maintenance, lighting strikes, construction accidents and planning accidents where the developer has built the towers in the wrong location.
In 2006 a man lost a leg in a transport accident on the Scottish Coast and while most transport accidents involve turbine sections failing from transporters (two in Scotland) some have been lost at sea along with a barge valued at £50M.
This begs the question do you want an industrial complex in your community, which has a questionable safety record.
Gone With the Wind: Why the Fast Jet Stream Winds Cannot Contribute Much Renewable Energy After All
Our interferance again in nature will have immence affects in the future
ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2011) — The assumption that high jet steam wind speeds in the upper atmosphere correspond to high wind power has now been challenged by researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany. Taking into account that the high wind speeds result from the near absence of friction and not from a strong power source, Axel Kleidon and colleagues found that the maximum extractable energy from jet streams is approximately 200 times less than reported previously. Moreover, climate model simulations show that energy extraction by wind turbines from jet streams alters their flow, and this would profoundly impact the entire climate system of the planet.
Jet streams are regions of continuous wind speeds greater than 25 m/s that occur at altitudes of 7-16 km. Their high speeds seem to suggest an almost unlimited source of renewable energy that would only need airborne wind energy technology to utilize it. Claims that this potential energy source could "continuously power all civilization" sparked large investments into exploitation of this potential energy resource. However, just like any other wind and weather system on Earth, jet streams are ultimately caused by the fact that the equatorial regions are heated more strongly by the sun than are polar regions. This difference in heating results in large differences in temperature and air pressure between the equator and the poles, which are the driving forces that set the atmosphere into motion and create wind. It is this differential heating that sets the upper limit on how much wind can be generated and how much of this could potentially be used as a renewable energy resource.
It is well known in meteorology that the high wind speeds of jet streams result from the near absence of friction. In technical terms, this fact is referred to in meteorology as "geostrophic flow." This flow is governed by an accelerating force caused by pressure differences in the upper atmosphere, and the so-called Coriolis force arising from Earth's rotation. Because the geostrophic flow takes place in the upper atmosphere, far removed from the influence of the surface and at low air density, the slow-down by friction plays a very minor role. Hence, it takes only very little power to accelerate and sustain jet streams. "It is this low energy generation rate that ultimately limits the potential use of jet streams as a renewable energy resource," says Dr. Axel Kleidon, head of the independent Max Planck Research Group 'Biospheric Theory and Modelling'. Using this approach based on atmospheric energetics, Kleidon's group used climate model simulations to calculate the maximum rate at which wind energy can be extracted from the global atmosphere. Their estimate of a maximum of 7.5 TW (1 TW = 10^12 W, a measure for power and energy consumption) is 200-times less than previously reported and could potentially account for merely about half of the global human energy demand of 17 TW in 2010.
Max Planck researchers also estimated the climatic consequences that would arise if jet stream wind power would be used as a renewable energy resource. As any wind turbine must add some drag to the flow to extract the energy of the wind and convert it into electricity, the balance of forces of the jet stream must also change as soon as energy is extracted. If 7.5 TW were extracted from jet streams as a renewable energy source, this would alter the natural balance of forces that shape the jet streams to such an extent that the driving atmospheric pressure gradient between the equator and the poles is depleted. "Such a disruption of jet stream flow would slow down the entire climate system. The atmosphere would generate 40 times less wind energy than what we would gain from the wind turbines," explains Lee Miller, first author of the study. "This results in drastic changes in temperature and weather."
Sample letters of objections
Dear Sir
Re: Planning Application Ref;11/00677 Hindle Farm
I want to make a formal objection to the planning application cited above on the following grounds. I have studied the relevant documentation related to the application and would like to comment on several aspects which are detailed below;
Visual amenity
How long you have lived in the area and why you chose to live here and what you enjoy about the area
How this would be adversely affected by the turbines. Loss of tranquillity, enjoyment of walks etc.
The turbine is far too large, too close to peoples’ homes and will be alien structures in a rural environment.
Visual Impact
•The proposed turbine would be visible for a significant distance, seen clearly as your leave Waltham along the A607
•The turbine will dramatically alter the landscape character of the area both in the immediate locality and from important vantage points.
Residential Amenity Value
When I chose to live in the area I accepted the additional cost of travel to work and shops for the enjoyment of the open countryside, walking the footpaths, riding the lanes and the peace and tranquillity of the countryside. This proposal will cause a significant impairment to this residential amenity which will continue for a generation and involve considerable loss to me and my family.
Noise
•The UK Noise Association recommends that wind turbines are not sited within 1 mile (1.6 km) of houses.
•Other families have experienced serious problems with smaller turbines at a greater distance from their homes
•There is a potential risk of sleep disturbance and related health issues from this proposal. Include any relevant personal medical conditions such as tinnitus, epilepsy, menieres disease, autism or hyperacusis.
Local Community
The New Coalition Government has indicated that developments should not be permitted if the local community is opposed to a scheme and this is enshrined in the Localism Bill. This gives a strong mandate from the local community to refuse the application if enough people oppose.
Planning Policy - The proposal contravenes the following planning policies;
Government Policy PPS7 - The proposal contravenes a key principle to “protect the countryside for the sake if its’ intrinsic character and beauty, the diversity of its landscapes, heritage and wildlife etc.”
Recreational Amenities - This would adversely affect walkers and horse riders of the local paths and bridleways, potentially compromising safety
Wildlife - The destruction of local birds and bats is inevitable.
yours sincerely,
Wind Speed Map of the UK
LOLA Action Group does not oppose wind energy. On the contrary we broadly support wind energy's role in developing more sustainable sources of energy and in reducing CO2 emissions. Anyone objecting to a wind farm is open to the accusation of NIMBYism.
For a reasoned discussion of this, it's worth looking at Alexander Chancellor's Guardian article, which can be viewed here.
Any proposed development should be examined on its merits. We need to reduce CO2 emissions, but we need to do so on a relatively crowded island where the construction of large energy-generating facilities has to fit in with other environmental and human factors.
Off-shore vs On-shore Where wind farms are sited off-shore great numbers of larger turbines can be built to take advantage of strong and consistent winds.
However, where wind farms are sited on-shore they generate relatively small amounts of power and can have a major negative impact on people and the surrounding countryside. The benefits have to be weighed against the negative impact.
LOLA Action Group, strongly object to the proposed wind turbine at Hindles Farm primarily on the following grounds. We consider that these negative factors far outweigh the possible benefits:
They are far too close to habitation, being barely 600 metres from the nearest house. In close proximity to Chadwell, Thorpe Arnold, nearest village Waltham on the Wolds, much of which is a conservation area, accommodating listed buildings most of the houses will be affected by some or all of the following points.
They would create noise by day and night, thereby reducing the peaceful character of the area to the detriment of local residents - with possible adverse health implications.
There are potential health and safety risks from turbines collapsing, ice throw, and catching fire.
There are also potential problems due to sunlight flickering on the rotating blades.
They will adversely affect the amenity value and hence prices and saleability of local houses.
The construction/commissioning phase would involve deliveries of huge quantities of concrete for the foundations as well as larger vehicles delivering turbine sections.
Access from the A607 will cause considerable disruption during the delivery phase.
It would adversely affect the landscape setting by introducing massive, intrusive, industrial form out of scale and out of keeping with local historic buildings, field patterns and views.
In view of the profit motive and heavy subsidies, we believe that the environmental advantages of the proposed wind farm may be overstated.
There is considerable low level aerial activity in the region. Fast jets, large helicopters, and private planes the area is also a favourite with hot-air balloons and microlights .
It will have adverse effects on birdlife, bats and TV reception and can also affect radio and mobile phones.
The original application was submitted to Melton Borough Council on the 6th October 2011.
Ref: 11/00677/FUL
Case Officer: Mrs Denise Knipe
Proposal:
Erection of a 50 metre to hub height overall height approx 80 metres, single wind turbine generator with associated transformer, foundations, crane hard standing, access tracks, and a temporary construction compound.
Location:
Hindles Farm, Melton Spinney Road,Thorpe Arnold, Melton Mowbray.
Applicant:
Mr Steve Butler
We believe that the location and surrounding area is a beautiful part of the unspoilt Wolds keep it that way.
What can you do!
Get involved
Tell your neigbours!
Our aim is to ensure that all local residents are aware of these plans
You can help us by telling your neighbours about this site.
Sign our petition
Write to your MP and Melton planning department
Your MP is Alan Duncan (Conservative)
Email: [email protected]
Melton Borough Council planning and building control
Email: [email protected]
Lola Action Group Contact Details:
Chairman: Stuart Lomas Email:[email protected]
Vice Chair: karen Steel Email:[email protected]
Officer: Tony Walker Email:[email protected]
Secretary: Jill Cannon Malone Email:[email protected]
Ed Smiley Jones Email:[email protected]
Note!
All correspondance through Jill Cannon Malone please.
Noise Shadow flicker Property prices
The environment Where does the electricity go?
The Law Safety
Noise
Are wind turbines noisy?
Information on wind turbine noise usually takes one of two forms; websites funded by energy companies or the green lobby would have you believe that they are whisper quiet. Meanwhile, anti-wind farm websites may seem to exaggerate the problems. We have to say that before we started researching this area, we had assumed that perhaps the noise issue might not be too serious. However, we have been quite shocked by the sheer amount of evidence building up on the internet that turbine noise can cause really severe distress to those living in the area.
Some of the issues involved in measuring noise are quite technical and difficult to understand. We’ve tried to explain them as simply as possible, but there is still quite a lot of information on this page. Let’s start with some quick questions and answers:
Q: Do wind turbines produce noise?
A: Yes.
Q: Will this noise disturb me? Will it keep me awake?
A: We believe that it is very likely that some local residents will be disturbed both day and night.
Q: Are there any other health problems associated with wind farms?
A: Research has suggested that noise can cause a range of health problems.
Q: Are there rules governing noise?
A: Yes, but many people have argued that these do not provide local residents with protection from noise problems.
What types of noise will there be?
Construction noise
Because the turbines are so large, they need very deep foundations. This requires very large concrete pillars to be hammered deep into the ground. This is extremely noisy, and very annoying for those living nearby, but it will only be a temporary problem.
Mechanical noise
The internal workings of the turbine, such as the gearbox and the generator, will generate some mechanical noise. However, improvements in technology mean that this noise is likely to be quite minimal, and may not be heard even if you are standing quite close to the turbine.
Blade noise
Most of the noise generated by turbines comes from the movement of the blades through the air, particularly when they pass the tower. This can produce a deep pulsing / thumping noise which has been reported to carry over long distances. This low pulsing sound may penetrate the walls of houses, and has been reported to cause severe distress to some residents, preventing them from sleeping at night.
Infrasound
Infrasound is sound that you can’t hear. Yes, we know that seems strange, but remember, the human ear has a limited range. It can’t hear very high sounds (like a dog whistle) and it can’t hear very low sounds, like the very low frequency sounds which turbines can produce. Unfortunately, this does not mean that they are harmless.
Some people near wind turbines report feeling the vibrations in their body, rather than hearing them, which keeps them awake at night. Meanwhile there is scientific evidence to suggest that certain parts of the human body may be sensitive to these very low level vibrations. This may explain why some people living near turbines seem to experience a range of health issues, often quite non-specific, such as feelings of anxiety, or generally feeling unwell. The fact that these symptoms are quite general, and therefore difficult to link conclusively to wind turbines, means that the wind turbine industry continues to deny that infrasound can affect people.
How is the noise measured?
Noise is measured in decibels (dB), and environmental noise uses a special measurement called dBA.
- A very quiet room might be 30 dBA
- The noise from vacuum cleaner might be 75 dBA
Before the turbines are built, noise measurements should be taken from a variety of locations on and near the site. For example, measurements may be taken from the gardens of nearby properties. These are to work out the level of “background noise”. These measurements should be taken at a range of different wind speeds, since this can affect how much background noise there is. This level of background noise is expressed in dBA, e.g. 40dBA.
What are the guidelines about noise?
These are set out in a document called ETSU-R-97. This specifies that in general the noise generated by a wind turbine should be no louder than 5db above background noise. So for example, if the background noise is 40db, residents may hear 45db of noise including the turbines. Remember that an increase of 10db sounds like a doubling of the volume. However, in quiet areas, different rules apply. ETSU-R-97 recommends a daytime limit of between 35-40 dBA. At night however, the limit is 43dBA. Incredibly, this means that turbines are allowed to create more noise at night than during the day.
What problems are there with these guidelines?
There have been a large number of objections to ETSU-R-97. For example:
- The rules were published in 1996… but in those days turbines were much, much smaller than today.
- The rules assume that problems with noise are only caused by how loud it is… but there is no consideration given to other factors, such as the type of noise and the duration of the noise. However, we all know that some types of noise are much more irritating than others.
- The rules state that it is only necessary to measure wind speeds up to 12 metres per second… but they ignore the fact that faster wind speeds may cause turbines to generate more noise.
- The rules state that wind speed should be measured at a height of 10 metres… but modern wind turbines can be 125 metres high.
- The rules are about audible sound… but completely ignore the problem of infrasound.
- The methods used to calculate noise levels from wind turbines are not appropriate. The rules specify a special measurement called “LA90,10min” Here’s how it works: The noise levels are measured over a 10 minute period. The noisiest 90% of this time is ignored completely, leaving only the quietest 10% of the data. The noise level is then calculated as being the loudest noise in this quiet period.
- “the wind turbines could be making a noise like a jet plane taking off in next door's garden for nine out of every ten minutes. LA90, 10min would ignore that and characterise the noise based on the remaining one quiet minute.”
- The rules recommend that noise limits are set in relation to the nearest properties… but some types of noise are actually difficult to measure close to wind farms, and more noticeable a little further away, at distances of over 500 metres.
- The rules assume that background noise will help mask the noise of turbines. However, the type of noise produced by turbines is of a completely different type to normal background noise, so may not be masked.
Will they keep me awake at night or disturb me?
Are there any effects on health
We would encourage you to have a good search around the internet, read both sides of the story, and make up your own mind. Here are some of the articles and downloads that we found useful while we were researching this page:
Measuring wind turbine noise
An interesting page from renewableenergyworld.com which explains why some people can find the noise from wind turbines annoying, even if the measurable noise isn't very high
"So if wind turbines aren't any louder than what we're already used to, why are people complaining about them?"
Aerodynamic Modulation noise
This document, published by Sadberge Parish Council, explains why turbines can make a low thumping noise, and why the rules governing noise will not protect residents from this problem.
"The noise monitoring recommended in ETSU-R-97 is totally ineffective in protecting residents from aerodynamic modulation noise..."
Sleep disturbance and wind turbine noise
A report by Dr C. Hanning, an expert in sleep disorders, stating that wind turbines can have a negative effect on sleep and so cause other health problems. It should be noted that Dr. Hanning was commissioned to write this report by an organisation campaigning against wind turbines in his local area. However, his qualifications and experience would seem to speak for themselves.
"There can be no doubt that groups of industrial wind turbines (“wind farms”) generate sufficient noise to disturb the sleep and impair the health of those living nearby."
Are wind farms a health risk? (NHS)
This page from the NHS considers an American study which linked sleep disturbance and other health problems to nearby wind turbines. While critising the design and small-scale nature of the study, the NHS notes that further study is needed in this area. This study was also reported in The Independent and The Daily Mail.
"It is physically and biologically plausible that low frequency noise generated by wind turbines can affect people..."
Environmental Protection UK
A letter written by the Chief Executive of Environmental Protection UK to Minister of State Chris Huhne. It asks for a review of the current noise guidelines, ETSU-R-97.
"...the public and professionals have no confidence in the current government endorsed guidance..."
MAS Environmental
A long and perhaps quite technical document which offers a detailed explanation of why the noise guidelines in ETSU-R-97 are flawed, and not appropriate in considering planning applications for large turbines.
"ETSU-R-97 is incapable of addressing the noise impact issues created by large turbines..."
Shadow flicker
Shadow flicker is the effect caused when the rotating blades of a wind turbine cast shadows. It doesn't sound like too much of a problem, but in reality the effect can be very unpleasant, as the video shows. The University of Nottingham has stated that the turbines can be shut down during periods when shadow flicker may affect nearby properties. However, it seems that problems with shadow flicker are not unheard of among those living near wind turbines.
Property prices
There is a great deal of conflicting evidence regarding the impact of wind turbines on property prices. At a recent public meeting, representatives of the university were questioned on this issue. They seemed unprepared for this, and declined to comment. It seems likely, however, that they will be better prepared next time and come armed with statistics and evidence in an attempt to suggest that wind farms have no negative effect on property values, or perhaps even that they can increase them.
In the interests of balance, we would like to put forward the opposite view; namely that the proposed wind turbines could have a devastating effect on the value of property in the area. In the meantime, if you're planning to sell your house, good luck. You'll need it.
What do estate agents and solicitors say?
Nothing good, it seems.
A study by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyers (RICS)
This 2007 study set out to determine whether the presence of wind turbines reduced the value of nearby properties. The researchers refer to their findings as "inconclusive"; however, this quote is taken from the study.
To download the study, click on the icon below.
"There is little point in continuing to market your property, as any serious purchaser will immediately be put off by the prospect of a nearby windfarm."
"Terraced houses sited within 1 mile of a wind farm were observed to be 54 per cent lower in value and semi detached houses within 1 mile of the nearest turbine were 35 per cent lower than similar houses at a distance of four miles."
Homeowners living near windfarms see property values plummet (The Telegraph)
"In a landmark case, Jane Davis was told she will get a discount on her council tax because her £170,000 home had been rendered worthless by a turbine 1,000 yards away."
You can look up the full article in the Telegraph.
"£170,000 home rendered worthless by a turbine 1,000 yards away."
The environment
The visual qualities of wind turbines are very much a matter of personal taste. Some find them elegant, whilst others simply find them ugly. One thing is certain; the character of the area would be drastically altered under the proposals to build these three 125 metre giants.
Even some environmental protection organisations recognise that despite the desire for more green energy, laws governing wind turbines are in need of change. Environmental Protection UK are now lobbying the government to review guidelines covering noise from wind turbines as they feel that these are inadequate.
Below is a letter from Environmental Protection UK to Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate change.
Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP
Minister of State DECC
1 Whitehall Place London SW1A 2AW
7th June 2010.
Dear Chris Huhne
Congratulations on your recent re-election and on your appointment as Secretary for Energy and Climate Change.
I am also writing to invite you to meet us to discuss some of the issues linked to energy, climate change, and local environmental quality, which will be challenging Westminster as we work to secure our energy infrastructure.
As you know, Environmental Protection UK works nationally in the field of local environmental quality, specifically on noise, air quality and land quality. Climate change is a key issue facing the UK and the world; however in a financially constrained environment it is important that climate change does not crowd out the environmental and social issues that have a direct impact on the health and well being of both people and ecosystems – and we believe that we can address climate change and maintain good quality, healthy local environments with well managed development.
Wind Turbine Noise Guidance - Planning Inspector Rejections
In particular, the previous government singularly failed to address the significant problem that has become apparent with the current outdated government approved guidance for the assessment and prediction of wind turbine noise. This despite repeated representations from ourselves and others, and an increasingly long list of protracted and costly planning battles involving communities, local authorities and developers. Recent decisions demonstrate that, increasingly, planning inspectors do not accept that the government recommended guidance, ETSU-R-97, provides an adequate assessment and are refusing applications where ETSU has been used, as they are not confident that adequate protection is provided. While the UK does have a significant wind resource, we are also a small, densely populated island, with a housing shortfall and a decreasing resource when it comes to rural areas that can truly be regarded as quiet or tranquil. Therefore, we remain somewhat astonished that to date, the issue of ensuring a sound assessment method for potential impacts has been totally neglected.
We believe progress towards meeting the Government‟s renewable energy targets can only be reached if the best information currently available both on potential generating capacity and on 2 potential impacts on health and local environmental quality is taken into account in the consideration of all applications – currently this is not the case.
In particular, we draw your attention to recent cases. Earlier this year the planning inspector upheld the decision of Bradford1 MBC to refuse permission for a 120m turbine, considering the evidence of noise impact gathered by the local authority to be a more honest assessment of impact than that carried out by consultants using ETSU-R-97. In Grise in the Lake District, a refusal on noise grounds, where ETSU had been used, was endorsed by the Secretary of State, and in Bedford, where the „IOA agreement‟ version of ETSU was used, the planning accept refused an application saying that the methodology used „did not appear to be endorsed by further research‟. These cases demonstrate that inappropriate guidance is misleading and costly for applicants, and that the issue needs to be urgently taken in hand.
Local opposition to wind turbines can only grow and planning refusals continue as it is demonstrably the case that the public and professionals have no confidence in the current government endorsed guidance. If disagreements over the extent and nature of potential impacts can be reduced, decision-making can properly focus on the balance between local and wider interests. Given the history to date, this will only happen if a methodology for assessing impacts is used that is agreed and accepted by consultants, local authority planners and noise specialists and developers and is perceived by professionals and the public to be credible.
Our factual basis for seeking a review of ETSU-R-97, as put to the previous government is as follows:
ETSU-R-97 was drafted with input from specialists in acoustics in the light of „best available guidance at the time‟ and in itself anticipated that it would need to be revised within two years.
ETSU-R-97 has now been „adapted‟ in an ad hoc way2 by practising acousticians (some of whom were involved in drafting the original guidance) to enable its continued use - we believe this alone demonstrates that in its original form it is no longer fit for purpose and requires revision.
The existence of what is in effect an alternative version of ETSU-R-97 – the so called common ground guidance drawn up by noise specialists working in the field, supports this view. Use of this in practice, diverging as it does from the original guidance accepted by government, is leading to further confusion and delay in planning inquiries, and refusals.
The draft National Policy Statement for Renewables3 states that “The applicant’s assessment of noise from the operation of the wind turbines should use ETSU-R-97 in accordance with latest industry good practice which should reflect any updated guidance issued in relation to ETSU-R-97 and accepted by Government.” We contend that updated guidance should be issued and accepted by Government as soon as is practically possible.
We do not agree that there is no evidence that Amplitude Modulation is a result of turbine size.
Currently there are limited, if any, provisions in place for remedy for any impacts on neighbours of wind farms (foreseen or unforeseen). We accept that some impacts may be unavoidable as an industrial infrastructure is developed to meet future energy needs within climate change constraints – and where this undesirable situation arises,
compensatory mechanism should be in place for neighbours who suffer significant adverse effects. This expresses the „polluter pays‟ principle, which we understand is Government policy.
Finally, we quote Peter Luff MP, who in presenting his Private Members‟ Bill in the Commons on 3rd November6 stated “There are different concerns about wind farms. Noise, especially low-frequency noise, the flicker effect and the resulting health implications are just some of those concerns. I have been impressed by the personal accounts of such concerns in many of the hundreds of e-mails that I have received. However, although the science may not yet be settled on those matters, the visual intrusion of wind turbines is a matter of objective fact."
In summary, in view of the obvious concerns about noise impacts, would you not agree that a further effort to bring the science to a more settled position, to the best of our current ability, and subject to review as further knowledge is developed, would enable the potential impacts of wind turbines to be more properly and effectively considered, that more prolonged planning battles are avoided and that a renewable energy infrastructure can be established with the best possible protection of local environmental quality? Until such time as this is the case, the controversy and delay will continue to be a costly hindrance development. We trust that you will understand the very strong case for swift revision of ETSU-R-97.
Environmental Protection UK are working to find constructive ways forward and are planning a workshop on wind turbines in the autumn to bring specialists and stakeholders together and support our local authority members, communities and industry in promoting better understanding of the issues. We hope that by then progress will have been made towards better, up to date guidance, and will be contacting DECC when we have fixed a date, to present current government thinking on the issue.
If you are able to meet with us, please contact my PA, Samantha Stille, on 01273 878775; [email protected] to arrange the details. I look forward to hearing from you.
With kind regards
Philip Mulligan
Chief Executive
Environmental Protection UK
Cc Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Cc Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
1. Bradford case refused on appeal - http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/5006245.Appeal_over_2m_turbine_in_Bradford_dismissed/
2. Prediction and Assessment of Wind Turbine Noise, Bowdler et al, Acoustics Bulletin, March/April
3. Draft National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN-3)
4. Wind Shear, Andrew Bullmore, IOA Wind Turbine Noise Conference, Jan 2008
5. Large Wind Turbines – Are they too big for ETSU – R – 97 – Mike Stigwood, IOA Wind Turbine Noise Conference, Jan 2008
6. Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091103/debtext/91103- 0009.htm#091103125000001
Where does the electricity go?
Are we going to see locally generated renewable energy benefiting the local community? Err... no.
"The great thing about this is that the electricity doesn't just get fed into the national grid, where it sort of gets lost in all the other electricity.
The law
Can they just go ahead and build the turbines?
No, they can't. Planning permission is required.
Is there a law about the distance between turbines and houses?
The short answer is no. “There is no minimum separation distance in English planning law or guidance."(1) Instead, the planning process considers the distances between turbines and nearby properties in relation to guidelines covering noise.
How do we compare to other countries?
Many countries recommend minimum distances between large wind turbines and properties. For example, “Scotland suggests 2 km separation, largely because of the visual effect, and Wales 500 metres.” “Denmark is one of the most successful countries in the development of onshore wind power… if Danish rules applied…many householders would become liable for compensation for loss of property value.
Will I be compensated if my property drops in value?
No. There is no compensation for those living near a wind farm.
What about noise?
There are published guidelines regarding wind farm noise.
The government has recently commissioned further research on the impact of noise, but it is not known when this will be published.
What is the current government’s policy?
The current coalition government is strongly in favour of renewable energy projects, including wind power. However, early this year, the Conservatives indicated that wind farms are not appropriate in places where local communities object strongly: “On-shore wind farms are not appropriate in all settings: local community consent is vital, and applications will need to be considered in the light of the possible impact on the local environment.
Is the law going to change in the future?
A bill was recently introduced in the House of Lords which aims to set minimum distances between turbines and residential properties. This minimum distances would depend on the size of the turbines. In the case of the turbines proposed for the Hindles Farm site, the minimum distance would be ? metres. A date for the second reading of the bill has yet to be announced.
A separate bill was recently introduced in the House of Commons which, if it becomes law, will give local authorities the power to specify minimum distances between turbines and residential properties.(5) This bill is due for its second reading in June 2011.
References:
1 Barclay, C. (2010) Wind Farms - Distance from housing. House of Commons library
2 Luff, P. cited in Barclay. op.cit.
3 Barclay, op. cit.
4 Conservatives (2010) Open Source Planning Policy Green Paper No. 14
5 www.parliament.co.uk Onshore wind turbines (Proximity of Habitation) Bill 2010-2011
Wind turbine safety
Modern wind turbines are obviously designed with safety in mind. For example, they may have atmospheric sensors to detect when ice may form on the blades. In such conditions, the turbine should shut down to prevent "ice throw" - chunks of ice being flung from the blades at high velocity.
Despite these precautions, accidents can, and do happen. The Caithness Wind Farm Information Forum has compiled accident statistics; here is what they have to say:
"The trend is as expected - as more turbines are built, more accidents occur. Numbers of recorded accidents reflect this, with an average of 16 accidents per year from 1995-99 inclusive; 48 accidents per year from 2000-04 inclusive, and 105 accidents per year from 2005-09 inclusive. Indeed over the past three years (2007-09) the average has been 124 accidents per year."
Myths about wind energy
The British Wind Energy Association (now RenewableUK) published what it called the ‘Top Myths about Wind Energy’ and what it claimed were the true ‘facts’.
These are still on its website, where they are trotted out by green organisations in defence of wind farms.
Below, we provide a set of independent comments which show how the BWEA has been selective in its answers and economic with the truth.
You should be aware that the BWEA is not an academic or philanthropic body looking after the interests of the Earth and the British people. It is a trade body with over 500 member companies, all of whom seek to make profits from renewables, especially wind farms. While there is nothing wrong with this, it does mean that the BWEA are not a neutral body and are, therefore, most likely to provide partial information that is most likely to further their member’s profits and interests rather than promote the truth.
BWEA Note: The 'average modern wind turbine' referred to in this document has a rated capacity of 1.8 megawatts (MW) onshore. Data on consented projects and applications currently being progressed shows that this will increase to over 2 MW in the near future. Offshore, turbines currently being installed are rated at 3 MW, and it is expected that this will rise to a typical 5 MW per machine by 2010.
"Tens of thousands of wind turbines will be cluttering the British countryside"
BWEA says
Government legislation requires that by 2010, 10% of electricity supply must come from renewable sources. Wind power is currently the most cost effective renewable energy technology in a position to help do that. Around 3,500 additional modern wind turbines are all that would be needed to deliver 8% of the UK's electricity by 2010, roughly 2,000 onshore and 1,500 offshore.
Independent comment
The 3,500 turbines are ADDITIONAL (as stated) which would bring the total to 5,500 in the UK by 2010. However, the Government wants 20% by 2020 – or another 5,500 turbines on the BWEA’s calculations. In addition, to reach the EUs target of 20% of ALL energy by 2020 would require 40% of electricity to come from renewables because such large savings in other sectors such as air transport, railways and vehicles is impossible. That would rack the number up to 22,000 turbines!
On December 10th 2007, John Hutton MP suggested we build 7,000 5MW wind turbines round the coast of Britain by 2020. As there are only around 4,000 days left until then, that means two a day for the next 12 years! How crazy can politicians get. He is talking about structures nearing the size of Blackpool tower to be erected in a hostile sea where work is only possible 5-6 months of the year. This must be one of the most ludicrous political blusters of all time. This aim was reaffirmed in a press release from the Crown Estate which marked the launch of round 3 of off-shore wind farm licensing for 25GW, bringing the total to 33GW by 2020. To replace our nuclear power stations alone with wind turbines would take between 10,000 and 15,000 turbines. In fact any number of wind turbines could only produce electricity when the wind blew and are incapable of delivering base load power which is provided mostly by nuclear power stations.
"Wind farms won't help fight climate change"
BWEA says
Wind power is a clean, renewable source of energy which produces no greenhouse gas emissions or waste products. The UK currently emits 560 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), the key greenhouse gas culprit, every year and the Government target is to cut this by 60% by 2050. Power stations are the largest contributor to carbon emissions, producing 170 million tonnes of CO2 each year. We need to switch to forms of energy that do not produce CO2. Just one modern wind turbine will save over 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Independent comment
We agree that at the point of generation wind power produces no CO2 and is renewable. However, wind will only save significant amounts of CO2 if it leads to the shut down coal or gas-fired power stations. But because of its intermittency (i.e. when the wind does not blow or blows at a speed below peak power provision) this cannot happen to any significant extent and some back-up power stations have to be kept at the ready either as ‘hot spinning reserve’ which can take over at 5 minutes notice, or as ‘standby’ which needs warming and several hours notice before it is available.
One modern 1.8MW turbine will NOT save over 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emission a year. This figure has been arrived at by multiplying the electricity generated by a CO2 ‘savings factor’ of 0.86 tonnes per megawatt hour (MWh). This figure is no longer accepted by the Government, the Carbon Trust, Ofgem (the electricity regulator), DEFRA, or the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the DTI). Most of these organisations now use a ‘savings factor’ of 0.45t/MWh though press releases from the Energy Minister are now using 0.37t/MWh. This reduces the ‘savings’ from 4,068 tonnes to either 2,128 tonnes (0.45 factor) or 1,750 tonnes (0.37 factor). In reality it is even less than this after the CO2 released in manufacturing, erecting, maintaining, turbines and making allowance for the hot spinning reserve or standby power are deducted.
Notably the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld complaints against wind farm companies on several occasions, finding them guilty of misrepresentating the CO2 savings when they use the figure of 0.86t/MWh. The wind energy industry knows it is guilty as it effectively acknowledged this in a recent industry publication and specifically on the BWEA’s web site where it committed itself to the agreement of new figures with the ASA.
In November 2008, after lengthy negotiations with the ASA the BWEA agreed to adopt the figure of 0.43t/MWh for calculating carbon savings They did so grudgingly and in their press release said it had come about because of ‘pressure from objectors’. Their web site has now been changed to show the new figures. At a stroke this means that it will take twice as many turbines to achieve and given CO 2 reduction target at twice the cost per tonne.
"Building a wind farm takes more energy than it ever makes"
BWEA says
The average wind farm will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within 3-5 months of operation. This compares favourably with coal or nuclear power stations, which take about six months. A modern wind turbine is designed to operate for more than 20 years and at the end of its working life, the area can be restored at low financial and environmental costs. Wind energy is a form of development which is essentially reversible – in contrast to fossil fuel or nuclear power stations.
Independent comment
Reference 4 quoted above is a paper by Milborrow who used to work for the BWEA. A graph in that paper compares the pay back time of several forms of electricity generation. Wind power is shown as a minimum time of about 4 months and a range up to 34 months. This is at variance with the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Report which used figures of 1 to 3 years. The reason for this wide range is not clear but the higher figures probably include a component for transportation of the turbines by sea and lorry and mining iron ore for steel manufacture. However, figures very much higher than 3 years can occur if a wind farm is built on peat soil where there is significant release of CO2 from peat damaged during draining of the site and road construction. This is now a major concern in both Scotland and the EU and is one of the reasons that the Isle of Lewis wind farm was turned down in early 2008.
We agree that a modern wind turbine can be removed after 25 years much more easily than a nuclear power station. However, it is more likely that they will not be removed at all but will be repowered (i.e. old turbines removed and replaced by even larger ones as has happened already at some locations such as Caton Moor in Lancashire). Further, the footprint of visual landscape damage by wind farms spreads over hundreds of square kilometers compared to just a few for conventional power stations.
"Wind farms are inefficient and only work 30% of the time"
BWEA says
A modern wind turbine produces electricity 70-85% of the time, but it generates different outputs depending on the wind speed. Over the course of a year, it will typically generate about 30% of the theoretical maximum output. This is known as its load factor. The load factor of conventional power stations is on average 50%. A modern wind turbine will generate enough to meet the electricity demands of more than a thousand homes over the course of a year.
Independent comment
Many people campaigning against wind farms confuse the 30% load factor with the amount of time for which a wind turbine produces some electricity (70 to 85%).
So in this case, the BWEA are right but, as usual, fail to tell the whole truth. They do not explain that based on the wind speed frequency in the UK and the power curve for a 2.5MW turbine, wind farms will generate nothing at all on 15 to 30% of the days. This translates to 55 to 110 days a year depending on the windiness of the site. Even worse, for 110 to over 250 day a year the power output will be less than 25% of the installed capacity. For all those days coal or gas fired power stations will have to provide the electricity using spinning reserve or back-up power stations. The only renewables that can give near 100% availability are hydroelectricity and biomass, though the latter has other serious environmental and social problems associated with it.
"Wind energy needs back-up to work"
BWEA says
All forms of power generation require back up and no energy technology can be relied upon 100%. The UK's transmission system already operates with enough back-up to manage the instantaneous loss of a large power station. Variations in the output from wind farms are barely noticeable over and above the normal fluctuation in supply and demand, seen when the nation's workforce goes home, or if lightning brings down a high-voltage transmission line. Therefore, at present there is no need for additional back-up because of wind energy. Even for wind power to provide 10% of our nation's electricity needs, only a small amount of additional conventional back-up would be required, in the region of 300-500 megawatts (MW). This would add only 0.2 pence per kilowatt hour to the generation cost of wind energy and would not in any way threaten the security of our grid. In fact, this is unlikely to become a significant issue until wind generates over 20% of total electricity supply.
Independent comment
The BWEA are largely correct – our Grid system has to have back-up whether we have wind farms or not. The amount of back-up has varied in recent years to as much as 25% of our peak requirements but is now about 15% due to the closure of many older plants. However, a strong case has been made out that once electricity from wind power reaches 15% of our needs (it is currently between 1 and 2%) or about 15 gigawatts the National Grid will be destabilized and there will be frequent blackouts. Paradoxically, as the Oxford economist Dieter Helm, has pointed out, we may need to build more conventional power stations to allow us to have ‘windmills’. According to Paul Golby (Eon UK’s Chief Executive) it would take 50 gigawatts of renewable electricity generation to meet the EU’s 2020 target. This would require up to 90% of this amount as backup from coal and gas plants to ensure supply when intermittent renewable supplies were not available. That would push Britain's installed power base up by a massive 44GW from the existing 76 gigawatts to 120 gigawatts at astronomical cost.
"Installing wind farms will never shut down power stations"
BWEA says
The simple fact is that power plants in the UK are being shut down, either through European legislation on emissions or sheer old age. We need to act now to find replacement power sources: wind is an abundant resource, indigenous to the UK and therefore has a vital role to play in the new energy portfolio.
Independent comment
In May 2007 the UK had 18 coal, 49 gas, 10 nuclear, and 81 hydroelectric and pumped storage power stations and about 40 burning waste, oil or diesel. Of course these numbers change as old stations are scrapped and new ones built, for example in January 2008 the UK had 5 new gas-fired power stations under construction, 3 approved at planning and 7 awaiting approval. However, wind farms can never lead to the closure of a polluting power station because the more wind that is installed the MORE back-up conventional power stations are needed – NOT LESS – see previous ‘Myth’. This is because wind is entirely unreliable (termed undespatchable by the Government as it is not available on demand but only when it is windy). This was confirmed recently] when Christopher Barton (Director of the UK Renewables Energy Strategy Project) said, ‘…the intermittency issue is not an insurmountable one, albeit that surmounting the problem comes at a cost so, for example, there will need to be greater overall generation capacity in the UK as you introduce more intermittent generation…’ [i.e. wind]. There you have it; the chief claim of wind protagonists that wind allows you to close dirty coal and gas to save CO2 is not supported.
"Wind power is expensive"
BWEA says
The cost of generating electricity from wind has fallen dramatically over the past few years. Between 1990 and 2002, world wind energy capacity doubled every three years and with every doubling prices fell by 15%. Wind energy is competitive with new coal and new nuclear capacity, even before any environmental costs of fossil fuel and nuclear generation are taken into account. The average cost of generating electricity from onshore wind is now around 3-4p per kilowatt hour, competitive with new coal (2.5-4.5p) and cheaper than new nuclear (4-7p). As gas prices increase and wind power costs fall – both of which are very likely – wind becomes even more competitive, so much so that some time after 2010 wind should challenge gas as the lowest cost power source. Furthermore, the wind is a free and widely available fuel source, therefore once the wind farm is in place, there are no fuel or waste related costs.
Independent comment
The above answer is largely correct. With the recent sharp rises in coal and gas prices (which are linked to the oil price) wind power has become much more competitive. It also benefits because the fuel (wind) is free and is not linked to international market trends. However, wind-generated electricity still receives a substantial subsidy in the form of one Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) for each megawatt hour generated. This ROC can be sold to the highest bidder, most likely to be one of the big power companies. Ofgem recently stated that wind companies could now make as much as £100 per MWh compared with conventional generation (coal, gas) which can only make around £35/MWh. These additional prices for wind-generated power are added to the household bills of consumers. ALL consumers are paying this premium which has reached over £1.1 billion a year already. Green tariff subscribers who think they are saving the planet are not paying anywhere near the value of the electricity they are using – we subsidise it. Notably, Denmark has almost the highest electricity costs despite have 6,000 wind turbines capable of generating up to 20% of its peak demand when the wind blows.
"The UK should invest in other renewable energy technologies"
BWEA says
Wind energy's role in combating climate change is not a matter of either/or. The UK will need a mix of new and existing renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures, and as quickly as possible. Significant amounts of investment have been allocated for wave and tidal energy development, and these technologies, along with solar and biomass energy, will have an important role in the UK's future energy mix. However, wind energy is the most cost effective renewable energy technology available to generate clean electricity and help combat climate change right now. Furthermore, developing a strong wind industry will facilitate other renewable technologies which have not reached commercialisation yet, accumulating valuable experience in dealing with issues such as grid connection, supply chain and finance.
Independent comment
Yes the UK should be doing much more to help other renewables develop but all, including wind, can play little part in combating climate change – now or in the future. Also they will contribute even less as our generation mix becomes cleaner (e.g. nuclear, gas, coal with carbon capture and storage) – see note on Question 2. If CO2 really is driving climate change then there are much better ways of dealing with it than destroying our most valued landscapes. For example, homes generate 84 million tonnes of CO2 a year. If each of us saved 10% of our power (not a lot to ask) that would amount to 8.4 million tonnes. The entire Government target for electricity from renewables by 2010 is a saving of 9.2 million tonnes. So we could save it all with not a wind turbine in sight. The UK has also saved 10.6 million tonnes in 2007 by switching from coal to gas generation and by using less fossil fuel in our homes and industry - again exceeding our 2010 target.
The BWEA are engaging in wishful thinking when they say there has been significant investment in other renewables. The amounts are but a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed and wind energy may be the most cost effective but it is the best of a very dismal lot. All renewables have problems of intermittency and can never be relied upon when needed. Even the Government says they are ‘non-dispatchable’ – which means not available on demand. With new initiatives for home and business insulation, improved efficiency of the engines in cars and lorries, better public transport, and so on we can save all the CO2 necessary without resorting to wind farms.
"Wind farms should all be put out at sea"
BWEA says
We will need a mix of both onshore and offshore wind energy to meet the UK's challenging targets on climate change. At present, onshore wind is more economical than development offshore. However, more offshore wind farms are now under construction, with the first of the large-scale projects operational at the end of 2003, and prices will fall as the industry gains more experience. Furthermore, offshore wind farms take longer to develop, as the sea is inherently a more hostile environment. To expect offshore to be the only form of wind generation allowed would therefore be to condemn us to missing our renewable energy targets and commitment to tackle climate change.
Independent comment
Once again the first sentence is wrong as wind farms (whether on- or off-shore) will do almost nothing to combat climate change. So the argument as to where they should be is irrelevant. Having said that, off-shore wind turbines are about twice as expensive as those on-shore (about £2.5 million per MW offshore compared to £1.25 per MW onshore). This no doubt contributed to Shell’s decision to pull out of the huge Thames Array wind farm.
"Wind farms are ugly and unpopular"
CWEA says
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and whether you think a wind turbine is attractive or not will always be your personal opinion. However, studies regularly show that most people find turbines an interesting feature of the landscape. On average 80% of the public support wind energy, less than 10% are against it, with the remainder undecided. Surveys conducted since the early 1990's across the country near existing wind farms have consistently found that most people are in favour of wind energy, with support increasing among those living closer to the wind farms.
Independent comment
We agree that this is a subjective, personal matter. If someone says they like wind turbines it is impossible to argue with them. There are certainly many opinion polls that show that most people support wind farms. However, the studies cited above in the early 1990s are so out of date and the turbines so small that they have no relationship to today’s monsters. Having campaigned across much of northern England and Scotland, it is abundantly clear to FELLS that once people are given all the facts rather than wind industry spin, they are mostly opposed to wind farms. And people should be proud to be a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard). As Dr Valerie Carril (University of Barcelona) said; Nimbys are in fact protecting the whole community from decisions that might not be in the best interests of the locality. The interest of the developer is obviously to make a profit but will they do anything for the quality of life of the rest of the community? The answer is often NO, and so protesters are an essential part of getting the proper arguments and merits of any plan discussed’.
"Wind farms negatively affect tourism"
BWEA says
There is no evidence to suggest this. The UK's first commercial wind farm at Delabole received 350,000 visitors in its first ten years of operation, while 10,000 visitors a year come to take the turbine tour at the EcoTech Centre in Swaffham, Norfolk. A MORI poll in Scotland showed that 80% of tourists would be interested in visiting a wind farm. Wind farm developers are often asked to provide visitor centres, viewing platforms and rights of way to their sites.
Independent comment
Neither Delabole nor Swaffham visitors centres were a success. At various times both needed local authority cash bail-outs and both eventually went bankrupt to be reopened in a different guise. Of the 150+ wind farms in the UK virtually none has a viewing platform or a visitor’s centre. Of course many people would find a visit to a wind farm interesting – out of curiosity if nothing else – but that does not justify covering the countryside with them. Of greater importance is the effect of wind farms on income from tourists. Several reports have studied this issue, and concluded that up to 18% of tourists would not revisit a location if wind farms proliferated. This may seem a small proportion but with a scenic county like Cumbria where tourism income amounts to £1.2 billion a year, the loss of 15% would amount to £180 million of lost revenue together with hundreds of associated jobs. The same would apply to other scenic centers in Scotland, the West Country, Wales and elsewhere. In fact a Scottish study (footnote 18) found that ‘….a significant minority (20% to 30%) of tourists preferred landscapes without windfarms’. In an internet survey in the same study, 17.8% said they would not visit an area if a wind farm was constructed. These figures are inconsistent with their evidence from a literature review that ‘…overall there is no evidence to suggest a serious economic impact of wind farms on tourists’. It is all very well for wind companies who make their millions from wind farms to play down these effects, but in doing so they put at risk the livelihoods of many other people trying to make an honest living.
"Wind farms harm property prices"
BWEA says
There is currently no evidence in the UK showing that wind farms impact house prices. However, there is evidence following a comprehensive study by the Scottish Executive that those living nearest to wind farms are their strongest advocates.
Indepdendent comment
Here the BWEA is simply not telling the truth. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has carried out a survey of their members . They found that 60% of the sample reported that ‘…windfarms decreased the value of residential properties where the development is within view’. They also found that the negative impact continues after construction is completed but ‘…becomes less severe after two years or so…’.The number of properties affected varied across the Regions from about 75% in the South West to 40% in Wales. The RICS did not say by how much the value decreased. In a 2007 survey this same Institution with the Oxford Brookes University stated "…as more wind farms are built, more property will become proximate. Therefore, a cautious approach should be adopted..."
In a court case in Cumbria, the purchasers of a property near Barrow were awarded 20% of the value in damages plus costs because they were not told that a wind farm was to be built close by. This indicates that this judge considered a devaluation of 20%. In this same area several houses have also had their Council Tax bands reduced. As this is calculated on the value of the property, it implies a loss in value and amenity.
Where a specific issue affects a property (e.g. noise, flicker) its marketability can be seriously compromised. A recent letter from an estate agent to the Davis family, who have been driven from their home near Spalding, Lincolnshire, comments as follows on the problem caused by the nearby wind farm: "I do not believe any prospective purchaser would want to inhabit the property, or indeed in the current climate whether any mortgage lender would be prepared to lend on the property... I am therefore sorry to say that I find myself in the rare situation of having to decline any instructions to market the above property."
Government itself has now acknowledged this damage to amenity and value by conceding that a Council Tax discount may be given for ‘Property affected by the proximity of an electricity generating wind turbine’+
"Wind farms kill birds"
BWEA says
The RSPB stated in its 2004 information leaflet Wind farms and birds, that "in the UK, we have not so far witnessed any major adverse effects on birds associated with wind farms". Wind farms are always subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment and BWEA members follow the industry's Best Practice Guidelines and work closely with organisations such as English Nature and the RSPB to ensure that wind farm design and layout does not interfere with sensitive species or wildlife designated sites. Moreover, a recent report published in the journal Nature confirmed that the greatest threat to bird populations in the UK is climate change.[35]
Independent comment
The impact of wind farms on birds depends very much on individual site characteristics. Certainly for small, typical lowland wind farms in Britain there is little evidence of bird deaths. However, there is a significant risk if wind farms are sited on migration routes, near major foraging grounds, between feeding grounds and roosting sites, or near important breeding grounds. If a wind farm site is carefully selected and avoids these sensitive areas then the risk of collision can be considerably reduced. Examples of inappropriate sites include Barvas Moor on the Isle of Lewis which is both a rare and protected blanket bog with deep peat as well as an important bird habitat. The RSPB objected throughout to this application, which was finally turned down in early 2008, as well as to the Pairc application for 53 turbines in central Lewis, the home of a growing Sea Eagle population. A second site that has proved disastrous is the Island of Smøla off Norway. Here a wind farm has killed many Sea Eagles and driven many others away since it began operating in 2005. The RSPB said ‘In short, the Smøla wind farm has caused birds to die and driven many others away with no evidence that they are breeding elsewhere’.
Perhaps of greater concern is disruption to and loss of habitat. The major construction activities needed to erect a wind farm often damage sensitive sites and introduce an element of human intrusion into what are often remote and peaceful locations. Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are especially vulnerable. It is strictly against EU legislation to build a wind farm within these areas or on land adjacent to them where an impact can be expected. Unfortunately, especially in Scotland, these regulations are often ignored. The RSPB agrees with these statements and said ‘…evidence from Spain and the US confirms that poorly sited wind farms can cause severe problems for birds, through disturbance, habitat loss/damage or collision with turbines’.
Though not mentioned by BWEA, bats are perhaps at much greater risk than birds. There are many reported instances of large number of bat kills around turbines built on their foraging grounds (often ridges). This may be due to air turbulence (vortices) near wind turbines which cause them to loose flight control, or to their inability to correctly echo-locate a fast-moving curved turbine blade. As all species of bat in the UK are protected, this is a significant concern.
The BWEA comment on climate change may be true but as wind farms make almost no contribution to addressing this problem, the remark is redundant in the context of birds.
"Wind farms are dangerous to humans"
BWEA says
Wind energy is a benign technology with no associated emissions, harmful pollutants or waste products. In over 25 years and with more than 68,000 machines installed around the world, no member of the public has ever been harmed by the normal operation of wind turbines. In response to recent unscientific accusations that wind turbines emit infrasound and cause associated health problems, Dr Geoff Leventhall, Consultant in Noise Vibration and Acoustics and author of the Defra Report on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects[41], says: "I can state quite categorically that there is no significant infrasound from current designs of wind turbines. To say that there is an infrasound problem is one of the hares which objectors to wind farms like to run. There will not be any effects from infrasound from the turbines."
Independent comment
Leventhall might be right but his results would be believed far more if he was not closely associated with the wind industry. A recent report from Salford University found noise problems in some 10 or so UK wind farms but refused to say which they were thus making checking the data impossible. One of the authors of this report also makes a living by representing wind power companies at Public Inquiries and so is not independent.
"Wind farms are noisy"
BWEA says
The evolution of wind farm technology over the past decade has rendered mechanical noise from turbines almost undetectable with the main sound being the aerodynamic swoosh of the blades passing the tower. There are strict guidelines on wind turbines and noise emissions to ensure the protection of residential amenity. These are contained in the scientifically informed ETSU Working Group guidelines 1996 and must be followed by wind farm developers, as referenced in national planning policy for renewables18. The best advice for any doubter is to go and hear for yourself!
Independent comment
While wind turbines have improved, the problem of noise remains. The industry standard (ETSU-R-97) was prepared in the mid-1990s when turbines were quite small. Today a typical turbine can be 100-125 metres high (328-410 feet). Hence the guidelines have not kept up with the technology and are, to all intents and purposes, out of date. Following out of date guidelines – even strictly - is useless for everyone concerned.
Experience also shows that wind farm noise is very hard to predict. Even a modern wind farm like Wharrels Hill (Cumbria) which began operation in 2007 is causing major problems for some residents in the nearby town of Bothel, while a wind farm at Deeping St Nicholas (Lincolnshire) has caused the residents of a nearby farm to move out of their home.
The BWEA says you should go and listen for yourself. That is quite difficult to do as you have to choose a day when the wind is strong enough, blowing from the right direction and then stand in the right place. The wind industry often says you can hold a normal conversation when standing right under a turbine. True - but that is not the problem. It is when standing at 500 to 1,500 metres away that the compressive thump as the blades pass the towers is heard or the low frequency vibrations are felt. Recently in a further report by van den Berg et al, noise was found to be the most annoying aspect of wind turbine proximity.
To deal with the problem of noise, Planning Authorities and Inspectors often attach conditions. Recently a High Court case found that the conditions were ‘unenforceable’ and the matter was referred back to the Secretary of State for ‘redetermination’. Even more recently, the Local Government Ombudsman found that the noise conditions attached to a wind farm were ‘vague, open to interpretation, immeasurable and thus unenforceable’. This has now been referred to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
All this could be avoided if the recommendation of the British Noise Association was followed[48], namely that the minimum distance for a wind farm from a dwelling should be 1 mile.
Concluding Independent Comment
It will be apparent from the above well referenced Independent Comments that the BWEA has been very frugal with the truth in many of its ‘Facts’. Any reasonably fair and impartial reader can only draw one conclusion, namely that the commercial interests of the BWEA and its members over-ride those of members of the public and in so doing misrepresent the real deficiencies of wind farms.
How safe is a wind turbine?
According to published data, not very safe at all. Over the passed 10 years the number of accidents has increased from an average of 16.0 accidents per year to the latest figures up-to 30th September 2009 on average of 66.9 per year being reported and let us not forgets that on average only 40% of all accidents are ever reported.
These accidents include 65 fatalities, 37 human injuries, 158 separate blade failures, 133 turbine fire incidents, 75 structural failures, and 27 incidents of ice throw similar to the ice falling from the Severn Bridge. There have been 42 reported transport accidents including a house being rammed through by a turbine section a transporter hitting a utility pole and pushing it through a restaurant and an incident of a turbine failing off in a tunnel; there have been a further 56 environmental damage accidents including bird deaths, the majority since 2007 and a further 86 miscellaneous accidents that cover a multitude of incidents from lack of maintenance, lighting strikes, construction accidents and planning accidents where the developer has built the towers in the wrong location.
In 2006 a man lost a leg in a transport accident on the Scottish Coast and while most transport accidents involve turbine sections failing from transporters (two in Scotland) some have been lost at sea along with a barge valued at £50M.
This begs the question do you want an industrial complex in your community, which has a questionable safety record.
Gone With the Wind: Why the Fast Jet Stream Winds Cannot Contribute Much Renewable Energy After All
Our interferance again in nature will have immence affects in the future
ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2011) — The assumption that high jet steam wind speeds in the upper atmosphere correspond to high wind power has now been challenged by researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany. Taking into account that the high wind speeds result from the near absence of friction and not from a strong power source, Axel Kleidon and colleagues found that the maximum extractable energy from jet streams is approximately 200 times less than reported previously. Moreover, climate model simulations show that energy extraction by wind turbines from jet streams alters their flow, and this would profoundly impact the entire climate system of the planet.
Jet streams are regions of continuous wind speeds greater than 25 m/s that occur at altitudes of 7-16 km. Their high speeds seem to suggest an almost unlimited source of renewable energy that would only need airborne wind energy technology to utilize it. Claims that this potential energy source could "continuously power all civilization" sparked large investments into exploitation of this potential energy resource. However, just like any other wind and weather system on Earth, jet streams are ultimately caused by the fact that the equatorial regions are heated more strongly by the sun than are polar regions. This difference in heating results in large differences in temperature and air pressure between the equator and the poles, which are the driving forces that set the atmosphere into motion and create wind. It is this differential heating that sets the upper limit on how much wind can be generated and how much of this could potentially be used as a renewable energy resource.
It is well known in meteorology that the high wind speeds of jet streams result from the near absence of friction. In technical terms, this fact is referred to in meteorology as "geostrophic flow." This flow is governed by an accelerating force caused by pressure differences in the upper atmosphere, and the so-called Coriolis force arising from Earth's rotation. Because the geostrophic flow takes place in the upper atmosphere, far removed from the influence of the surface and at low air density, the slow-down by friction plays a very minor role. Hence, it takes only very little power to accelerate and sustain jet streams. "It is this low energy generation rate that ultimately limits the potential use of jet streams as a renewable energy resource," says Dr. Axel Kleidon, head of the independent Max Planck Research Group 'Biospheric Theory and Modelling'. Using this approach based on atmospheric energetics, Kleidon's group used climate model simulations to calculate the maximum rate at which wind energy can be extracted from the global atmosphere. Their estimate of a maximum of 7.5 TW (1 TW = 10^12 W, a measure for power and energy consumption) is 200-times less than previously reported and could potentially account for merely about half of the global human energy demand of 17 TW in 2010.
Max Planck researchers also estimated the climatic consequences that would arise if jet stream wind power would be used as a renewable energy resource. As any wind turbine must add some drag to the flow to extract the energy of the wind and convert it into electricity, the balance of forces of the jet stream must also change as soon as energy is extracted. If 7.5 TW were extracted from jet streams as a renewable energy source, this would alter the natural balance of forces that shape the jet streams to such an extent that the driving atmospheric pressure gradient between the equator and the poles is depleted. "Such a disruption of jet stream flow would slow down the entire climate system. The atmosphere would generate 40 times less wind energy than what we would gain from the wind turbines," explains Lee Miller, first author of the study. "This results in drastic changes in temperature and weather."
Sample letters of objections
Dear Sir
Re: Planning Application Ref;11/00677 Hindle Farm
I want to make a formal objection to the planning application cited above on the following grounds. I have studied the relevant documentation related to the application and would like to comment on several aspects which are detailed below;
Visual amenity
How long you have lived in the area and why you chose to live here and what you enjoy about the area
How this would be adversely affected by the turbines. Loss of tranquillity, enjoyment of walks etc.
The turbine is far too large, too close to peoples’ homes and will be alien structures in a rural environment.
Visual Impact
•The proposed turbine would be visible for a significant distance, seen clearly as your leave Waltham along the A607
•The turbine will dramatically alter the landscape character of the area both in the immediate locality and from important vantage points.
Residential Amenity Value
When I chose to live in the area I accepted the additional cost of travel to work and shops for the enjoyment of the open countryside, walking the footpaths, riding the lanes and the peace and tranquillity of the countryside. This proposal will cause a significant impairment to this residential amenity which will continue for a generation and involve considerable loss to me and my family.
Noise
•The UK Noise Association recommends that wind turbines are not sited within 1 mile (1.6 km) of houses.
•Other families have experienced serious problems with smaller turbines at a greater distance from their homes
•There is a potential risk of sleep disturbance and related health issues from this proposal. Include any relevant personal medical conditions such as tinnitus, epilepsy, menieres disease, autism or hyperacusis.
Local Community
The New Coalition Government has indicated that developments should not be permitted if the local community is opposed to a scheme and this is enshrined in the Localism Bill. This gives a strong mandate from the local community to refuse the application if enough people oppose.
Planning Policy - The proposal contravenes the following planning policies;
Government Policy PPS7 - The proposal contravenes a key principle to “protect the countryside for the sake if its’ intrinsic character and beauty, the diversity of its landscapes, heritage and wildlife etc.”
Recreational Amenities - This would adversely affect walkers and horse riders of the local paths and bridleways, potentially compromising safety
Wildlife - The destruction of local birds and bats is inevitable.
yours sincerely,
Wind Speed Map of the UK
