fewcott windfarm

The evolution of windfarm 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; noise levels from windfarms are on a par with rural background noise. Turbine blades rotate faster when the wind speed is high, and any increase in noise from the turbines would be masked by the increase in background noise (the sound of the wind blowing, trees rustling, etc).

A study by Salford University (commissioned by the D.B.E.R.R. 2007) consulted every Local Authority with a windfarm in the area, they found that out of 133 windfarms in the UK, there had been complaints with regard to noise from just 81 households since records began in 1991. To put this into context, there were 7,522 complaints about industrial noise in just one year, with noise complaints in all categories totalling 286,872.

All of our windfarms comply with "the assessment and rating of noise from windfarms" (ETSU-R-97) - the approved methodology used by planning authorities.

Low frequency noise is audible noise at the lower end of the normally audible frequency range.  Infrasound is sound of frequencies lower than those which are normally audible.

A recent report by Salford University (commissioned by D.B.E.R.R. July 2007) found that low frequency noise was not a problem - of all the windfarm sites in the country a maximum of four sites had suffered from amplitude modulated noise problems, which had been reported as low frequency noise, but is actually variation in the overall noise occurring at the blade passing frequency.

Doctor Geoff Leventhall, author of the Defra report (2003) on infrasound and its effects 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 of windfarms like to run. There will not be any effects from infrasound from the turbines."

There is currently no evidence in the UK that quantifies any link between falling rates in house prices and turbine proximity. Windfarms are generally more accepted once they have been running for a few years, for many people it seems to be the threat of the windfarm rather than the presence of turbines.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors concluded "The negative impact of windfarms on property values appears to decline over time. This may suggest that the impact lessens as windfarms become a more established part of the rural landscape...", whilst the Scottish Executive found that those living nearest to windfarms are their closest advocates.

We undertake extensive environmental studies to ensure that the impact on wildlife is minimal.  We are careful not to develop on any environmentally sensitive land or designated sites, and work closely with organizations such as Natural England and the RSPB.

Poorly sited windfarms can cause problems for birds, through disturbance, habitat loss/damage or collision with turbines.  However, the available evidence suggests that appropriately positioned windfarms do not pose a significant hazard for birds.  In the UK, to date, there have been no major adverse effects on birds associated with windfarms.

An article in the journal ‘Nature' reminds us that the greatest threat to wildlife in the UK is climate change; the RSPB predicts that without a comprehensive network of renewable energy sources, climate change is predicted to detrimentally affect most species within the UK.

We ensure that the results of the environmental surveys feed into the design of the development to ensure that protected species are not adversely affected.  Our Environmental Information contains the details and results of all environmental surveys and studies undertaken.

 Aviation issues are carefully examined when we plan a windfarm. We work closely with the necessary authorities to ensure that the turbines do not interfere with radar, military aviation training or telecommunications.

A modern wind turbine will produce electricity 70-85% of the time, but generates different outputs according to the wind speed. Let's not forget, the wind is completely carbon free.

Measured in terms of mechanical efficiency, a wind turbine is over 40% efficient compared to a coal fired generating station at about 38%. and a typical internal combustion engine at 20-25%.

Mechanical efficiency is a measure of the conversion of the available energy to useful energy or work.

Figures courtesy Dr Keith Tovey, University of East Anglia.

The average windfarm will pay back the energy used for its manufacture and construction within three to ten months. This compares favourably with coal or nuclear power. * Following the decommissioning of a windfarm, the ground can be returned to it's former use almost immediately, unlike fossil fuel or nuclear power plants.

* Source BWEA

We are happy to provide details of suitable windfarms for you to visit. Click here to register and contact us using the Ask us a Question section. 

Alternatively, if you are planning to visit another area of the country, you could look at the BWEA map of windfarms to see if a suitable site might fit in with your travel plans. Click here to view a map of locations

Under certain circumstances, the turbine blades can cast a moving shadow causing a flickering effect; this is termed ‘shadow flicker'. Whether shadow flicker occurs depends on the size of the turbines, the distance from the turbines to the shadow receptors, the angle and intensity of the sun, along with a number of meteorological considerations.

We will use specialist software to detect in advance any properties likely to be affected, with subsequent mitigation. These results will be included in our Environmental Information.

No, in fact a small windfarm could help to prevent a larger development in your area. Planning authorities try to avoid what is termed ‘cumulative effect' - a view of two or more windfarms conflicting in the landscape.

There is no evidence to suggest this - often the opposite is found to be the case:

• MORI poll in Scotland (2002)showed that 80% of tourists would be interested in visiting a windfarm site
• The UK's first commercial windfarm at Delabole received 350,000 visitors in the first ten years
• The turbine at Swaffham in Norfolk enjoys 10,000 visitors a year
• A study for the Scottish Government by Glasgow's Caledonian University, released on the 12th of March 2008  found that the potential reduction in tourist income could be as little as 0.18% and that 75% of respondants felt windfarms had a positive or neutral effect on the landscape.

We do our utmost to limit the visual interference from wind turbines. We do this by using careful planning strategies along with the advice of professional Landscape Consultants. The proposed layout of the windfarm, along with some predicted views of the turbines, can be seen on the interactive map.

Windfarming is popular with farmers, because their land can continue to be used for growing crops or grazing livestock. Sheep, cows and horses are not disturbed by wind turbines.

The first windfarm built in the UK, Delabole, has a stud farm and riding school, and the farmer, Peter Edwards, often rides around the windfarm on his horse.

Source: BWEA

.

Wind turbines have an excellent record for safety, and are manufactured to the most stringent safety standards. There has been no record of any injury to a member of the public (Source: ODPM 2004, PPS22 Companion Guide). Properly maintained windfarms are an extremely safe technology.

Compared to other forms of power (e.g. nuclear, coal, other large plant developments), windfarms are safe and easy to decommission at the end of their lifespan.

Due to the design of the national electrical distribution system, coupled with varying demands, it is more efficiant for the turbines to be connected into the national grid.

We liaise closely with the Local Highways Authorities, the Highways Agency and the Local Council to ensure any disruption to transportation routes is minimal. Any existing roads altered to allow for the transportation of cranes, vehicles, blades, etc, will be reinstated on completion of the windfarm.

Construction will be carried out in stages designed to reduce any inconvenience, further details can be found in our Environmental Information.

Typically, the foundation would be approximately 15-20 metres in diameter and located between 1.2m and 2m below the surface. The exact measurements will depend on the turbine selected and the underlying bedrock.

It is usual for a windfarm to receive planning permission for a 25-year lifespan. At the decommissioning stage, the turbines would be removed and the ground surface would be re-instated to its former condition. Any potential impact is assessed within our Environmental Information.

Throughout the 25 years of wind energy generation in this country, there have been no significant reports of health issues (Source: D.B.E.R.R.).

Wind turbines do not produce or require harmful substances in order to generate electricity. The noise level (including low frequency noise and infrasound) produced by turbines adheres to stringent limits set in both the EU and the UK.

A study commissioned by D.B.E.R.R. found that:

• Vibration levels attenuated rapidly with distance
• There was no clear increase in vibrations with the increase of wind speed
• 100 metres away from the turbines, vibration levels were 10 times lower than the safety requirements

A detailed assessment and site survey will be undertaken to determine any potential archaeological impacts. Where possible, the design of the windfarm will avoid archaeological features so as to preserve them in situ.

Where this is not possible, or where unknown remains are discovered during construction, an appropriate program of archaeological recording will be implemented in consultation with the Statutory Consultee.

We work closely with the Planning Authorities to ensure that all disruptions are kept to a minimum. All work will be carried out sensitively, during business hours.

The UK currently emits 560 million tones of carbon dioxide every year, power stations are the largest contributors producing a massive 170 millions tones. If we are to meet government targets of cutting these figures 60% by 2050, we need a source of energy that does not produce carbon dioxide.

Wind power is a clean, renewable source of energy that produces no waste products or harmful emissions.

For more information on climate change, click here.

At present, onshore wind developments are far more economical than offshore developments. In order to meet the UK's challenging targets on climate change we will need to make use of all forms of renewable energy. Offshore wind has it's own problems:

• Impact on radar due to lack of shielding from hills etc
• Limited economic locations due to ocean depth and distance from grid
• Effect on marine life and bird populations.

For example, a planning application at Shell Flats was lodged in January 2003 - we are still waiting a decision!

The grid has to be monitored to keep supply and demand in balance from whatever generation source and some standby capacity has to be kept in reserve in case of sudden power generation losses.

It is designed to cope with sudden closures such as that of British Energy's reactors at Hinkley Point, Hunterston, Hartlepool or Heysham  in 2006/2007. Did you notice the lights go out?

The ebb and flow of the wind is not a sudden on off scenario as above and as all wind turbines are grid connected the grid will receive power from whichever turbines are being turned by the wind. It is not very often that the whole of the UK is without wind. In fact, the "Friends of the Earth" wind power leaflet shows just how closely electricity demand matches the supply from windfarms.

Even if wind is responsible for 20% of total electrical generation, (the government's target for 2020 in terms of all renewable energy is 20%) it is estimated that the emissions savings from wind will be reduced by a little over 1% due to reserve generation, meaning that 99% of the emissions from the displaced fuel will be saved.-Sustainable Development Commission.

No, wherever we build a windfarm, we ensure that the cables between it and the point of connection provided to us by the network operator are installed underground.

A capacity factor or load factor is a measure of how much an engine is expected to be used during a year and is a figure often use in estimating outputs. A small engine used all the time will have a capacity factor of 1 (sometimes expressed as 100%). A larger engine used for a quarter of the time would have a capacity factor of 0.25, but may well produce far more work than the smaller one!

For example, it has been estimated that a car driven for 10,000 mile per year will have a load factor of 0.04 or 4% - courtesy Dr Keith Tovey, UEA

We have examined data from 6 Met Office stations over a period of 10 years. Of these only Great Dun Fell, at an altitude of 2783 feet above sea level, showed any loss of energy due to high wind speeds, with turbines located there potentially being non-generating for only 1.5% of their total time due to high winds.

A University of Oxford report (2005) looked at this in greater depth over the whole of the U.K. and concluded that on average these conditions occur only about 0.1% of the time, based on 10 years data from 45 meteorological stations.