Wind+Power

Disadvantage There are concerns that wind power can actually harm the environment. One of the greatest concerns is over the damage that it can cause the bird community. There are fears that birds can fly into the wind turbine and get killed. Between 1989 and 1991, 182 dead birds were found in study plots associated with wind turbines, and approximately 39 golden eagles per year were killed by turbines. Golden eagles, red-tailed hawks and American kestrels had higher mortality than more common American ravens and turkey vultures. Deaths of eagles and potential danger to endangered California condors have raised the biggest issues at Altamont Pass. Bird mortality at comparably sized wind facilities has been recorded comparable to or lower than those at Altamont Pass. At San Gorgonio pass, a California facility with 2,700 turbines located along the Pacific migratory flyway, Southern California Edison estimates mortality of 3900 to 6900 birds per year.

Advantage Wind turbines in Midwestern farm fields may be doing more than churning out electricity. The giant turbine blades that generate renewable energy might also help corn and soybean crops stay cooler and dryer, help them fend off fungal infestations and improve their ability to extract growth-enhancing carbon dioxide from the air and soil. The slow-moving turbine blades channel air downward, in effect bathing the crops below via the increased airflow they create. The turbulence resulting from wind turbines may speed up natural exchange processes between crop plants and the lower atmosphere. For instance, crops warm up when the sun shines on them, and some of that heat is given off to the atmosphere. Extra air turbulence likely speeds up this heat exchange, so crops stay slightly cooler during hot days. On cold nights, turbulence stirs the lower atmosphere and keeps nighttime temperatures around the crops warmer. Other benefits of wind turbines could result from their effects on crop moisture levels. Extra turbulence may help dry the dew that settles on plants beginning in late afternoon, minimizing the amount of time fungi and toxins can grow on plant leaves. Additionally, drier crops at harvest help farmers reduce the cost of artificially drying corn or soybeans.

[] [] [] [] Disadvantage The land used for wind turbine is consuming. Multiple turbines take up a lot of space and land. The height of wind turbines are very high. They take up valuable space that can be used for houses, farms, or roads. They are very dangerous for the population. Wind turbines are very big and heavy. At any moment they can break and fall on the land or people. We will need more generating capacity to meet the demand of growing populations, of developing countries, and to support newly developed technologies that we adopt in our lives. We will also need to develop generating capacity to replace older facilities that are reaching the end of their useful or productive life. There is an impact on land use related to the construction and operation of all power generating facilities and wind turbines are no exception. As we plan for our energy future it is important that we understand the impact of the choices we make. Large industrial sized turbines which are installed together to form a wind farm will have a much larger footprint on the land. Depending on the local terrain, wind projects “occupy anywhere from 28 – 83 acres per megawatt, but only 2 – 5% of the project area is needed for turbine foundations, roads or other infrastructure”. It is in relation to these larger industrial sized wind turbines and wind farms that land use issues become a significant factor in considering the development of wind projects to generate electricity. []

Advantage For many years, wind turbines at sea have been producing significant quantities of electricity for large range of countries across the globe. Off-shore wind turbines usually generate more energy than on-shore turbines, however, this isn't true in every scenario. Wind turbines constructed on land can generate just as much energy as off-shore wind turbines. The deciding factor on a turbines efficiency lies in the placement of the turbine. Coastal wind turbines are the preferred option, yet the costs involved in constructing a turbine out at sea are far greater than building a turbine on land. There are also many dangers associated with off-shore construction. []





One advantage of a wind turbine is that it has a very low environmental impact. Even though a wind turbine may take up a lot of space on farms, the land use is very agricultural. Only a small amount of turbine foundations do not allow for other growth in the area. Another reason they are good because they consume no fuel or water, and there are no emissions released directly related to the electricity production. For building wind turbines only about 1% of the land used is for the foundation and access roads while the other 99% can still be used for farming and agriculture growth. Wind power has an effect on global-mean surface temperature because it would deliver "enormous global benefits by reducing emissions of CO2 and air pollutants". One concern is the wildlife in the area that the wind turbines are being placed in. Even with the turbines, animals can still graze and go on with their daily lives unaffected. []

One disadvantage of using wind turbines as a source of energy is that they need backup systems when winds are low. Some areas that the wind turbines are located may have windless periods which will cause no energy to be created. One kind of converter used for turbines is a **120 and 220 Volt; 60 Hertz (USA)** inverter. An issue is that the battery could main, and in that case that would cause several problems. The motor will turn 17% slower, mechanical cooling is less because it is turning 17% less. If the appliance burns out it can lead to premature failure, wear, and ** can even cause a fire. This can be a huge disadvantage because the turbine is not being used to its fullest advantage. **