Why wind?

The UK is the windiest country in Europe. The UK needs a mix of low carbon energy, such as wind, hydro, marine and solar to tackle fuel poverty, secure the UK’s energy supply and tackle climate change.

The benefits of wind power:

• Clean - producing no harmful emissions during generation and helping displace emissions from fossil fuel power stations

• Cheap - wind can help reduce the cost of our electricity bills1. With no direct fuel costs, and improved technology the cost of wind electric is competitive with natural gas, coal and nuclear

• Reliable - producing electricity on average for 70- 85% of the year

• Quick Pay Back - the energy consumed in its construction, transportation and operation is paid back in less than one year

• Minimal effect - it has minimal impacts on local ecosystems and land use

• Recyclable - after its lifetime of 20-30 years a wind turbine can be removed and the land restored. Furthermore, 80% of modern turbines are recyclable

• Quick - it does not need long lead times to be built

• Independence - they can help reduce the UK’s dependency on any one supplier, country or technology. For example, with increasing energy demands and falling fossil fuel reserves the UK may have to import gas to cater for 80% of our electricity needs by 2020.

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Wind facts

Are wind turbines safe?

Yes, the wind energy industry enjoys an outstanding health and safety record. In over 20 years of electricity generation with more than 100,000 machines installed worldwide, no member of the public has ever been injured during the operation of a wind farm. The reality is that wind power, like most renewable energy technologies, poses a very low risk to human beings.

Do wind turbines effect birds?

We have carried out a year’s worth of bird surveys to see what birds are on site and whether they are wind turbine sensitive species. We have also been speaking to the RSPB and Natural England and they have not raised any particular concerns over the site.

Will I be affected by shadow flicker?

Shadow flicker is when the sun is behind the turbine blades as it rises and sets and creates a shadow. We will install a solar sensor on the top of all the turbines that is able to sense when shadow flicker will occur and turn the turbine off. Therefore no one will be affected by shadow flicker.

How often will the turbines be generating electricity?

An average wind turbine will be generating electricity 70-85% of the time, although the windier it is the more electricity it generates.