This page gives and overview of the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy. There are a number of other pages on this site dedicated to wind power information such as our domestic wind turbine and UK wind power pages, but this list of the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy should give an at-a-glance overview of what this technology has to offer.
ADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY
- The fuel, i.e. the wind, is free!
- Domestic wind turbines are relatively inexpensive to buy and install
- Wind Energy Grants are available from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme for domestic wind power systems
- Domestic wind energy systems can be grid connected or stand-alone
- Wind turbines don’t require a large area of space even when of an industrial size. This allows the land beneath to be used, for example, for agriculture
- There is no waste associated with wind energy
- Wind power does not produce carbon dioxide emissions, one of the main Greenhouse Gases
- Excess electricity can be sold to energy companies
DISADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY
- The wind is not constant meaning that electricity production is variable and can be nil
- Wind turbines are not suitable for all locations as wind frequency and speeds needs to be taken into consideration
- Wind turbines, especially industrial-sized models, are often considered to be unsightly
- Large wind turbines in particular can be noisy, although this has improved
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