Environmental aspects of wind power

Wind power plant as a renewable energy source has slight influence on environment, nevertheless people reluctantly agree to construct power plants in their neighbourhood.

One of the most common environmental aspect regard noise. The noise has two sources: mechanical (inherent in the gearing system – excluding double feed system) and the second one related with aerodynamics of the rotor blade. The first one is possible to eliminate but the second one not. The aerodynamic noise arise when the rotating blade passing the tower. That effect calls the tower thumb. The most influence on the level of loud has wind speed. When the wind blow fast the background noise is enough loud to drown out the tower thumb effect but when the wind is blowing lightly the tower thumb effect is audible in long distance. [3]

Other environmental problem is electromagnetic interference. Large structures like wind rotor and tower can cause objectionable electromagnetic interference in the performing of a nearby transmitters or receivers. Moreover the rotating blades can also reflect signals what make experience interference at the blade passage frequency. The highest influence on that effect strength has location. This problem is important for onshore technology but in some of case large offshore power plants the problem could be higher. The offshore power plant can interference with radar and flight paths to airfields. [3]

Next one environmental problem is effect on birds. The wind turbine blade is a lethal weapon against any avian population. The birds may be killed or at least injured if the collide with blade. The most often situation the suction draught created by wind flowing to a turbine caught the birds and poke them into air stream headed for the blades. Extremely dangerous are turbines with lattice towers, where the bird has possibility to nest. Therefore often wind farms have to be sited away avian flight paths. [3]

The last one environmental problem is visual impact mainly for onshore wind farms. The problem is related with property owners around the wind farm, who do not allow for wind power plant installation in their neighbourhood. However that problem also regard offshore technology for farms installed near resorts. [3]

One of the most valuable social advantages is new workplaces. Usually it is a job for a local technicians and engineers. In 2007 the EU wind energy sector directly employed about 108600 people (most of all in Denmark, Germany and Spain). About 37% of new workplaces are in wind turbine manufacturing, 22% in components manufacturing, 16% in wind technology development, 11% in installation, operation and maintenance, 9% in utilities, 3% in consultants, 2% in other functions. At present generally jobs are related with onshore technologies however offshore becoming more and more common. [45]

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