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Wind Farms – a 'Folly' Way of Reducing CO2 Emissions

In terms of cost efficiency, wind farms rank low on the list, says Civitas

Jan 10, 2012 08:17 GMT  ·  By
Sunset at Royd Moor Wind Farm; wind farms rank low in a list of cost-effective technologies seeking to produce and offer green energy to British consumers
   Sunset at Royd Moor Wind Farm; wind farms rank low in a list of cost-effective technologies seeking to produce and offer green energy to British consumers

The quest to find and exploit renewable sources of power has taken an unexpected turn, as a team of experts from Civitas has recently issued a disturbing report highlighting that wind farms count as inefficient, expensive methods of curbing greenhouse gas emissions while providing clean, green energy.

Their main argument is that wind power is an unpredictable resource. Just like solar power, its cannot be controlled at a touch of a button. This is why this sector has to be backed by gas-fired power stations to respond to the energy demand, the Telegraph informs.

“You keep having to switch these gas fired power stations on and off, whereas if you just have highly efficient modern gas turbines and let it run all the time, it will use less gas,” explained Ruth Lea, an economic adviser and the author of the Civitas report.

When it comes to financial advantages, the authors of the report indicate that gas-burning and nuclear plants are the best option available so far for the UK. On the other hand, they note that offshore wind farms are ridiculously expensive, mostly due to installation and operations costs.

The Civitas report also highlights that if the renewable sector were to benefits from a governmental support, this action would add up to £400 (€484/$619) to energy bills during the next twenty years, impacting the average consumer.

The fact that wind farms can't operate in a suitable manner on their own does not only require extra investments; it also counts as a major source of pollution since the same study reflects that wind turbines supported by gas plants are more likely to generate an increased amount of emissions, emitting even more than conventional gas turbines.

“The wind projects do not fulfill 'sustainable' objectives. They cost more fuel than they save and they cause no CO2 saving, in the contrary they increase our environmental 'foot print',” reveals the report.

However, officials from Renewable UK have condemned the report for its “outdated and inaccurate information,” delivered and supported by “anti-wind farm cranks,” according to Business Green.

It is likely that the new study may decrease the popularity of this alternative source of energy, making it seem like a pointless investment with no further benefits. Even under these circumstances, Britain has committed to building and operating 32,000 wind turbines over the next two decades.