Most of us have seen so-called wind farms consisting of many wind turbines when we travel around the countryside. Wind turbines are used for several purposes but one of their main uses is to generate electrical energy from the wind.
If the wind that they harness is in great enough amounts it can be converted into useful electrical energy.
There is also the traditional windmill that has been used for centuries to crush grain for flour making. When the wind was blowing the windmill blades would turn, and they would turn a mechanism inside which was attached to large stones that would grind the grain into flour. In general, wind turbines are a environmentally-friendly alternative to using fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources to produce our power or do useful work.
Noise From Wind Turbines
The one main complaint with people and turbines is the noise they make, which can be constant and annoying to some but not everyone notices it. The other complaint is that they are unsightly to look at, but compared to the hideous electricity pylons striding across the countryside they are quite elegant. In fact some people find them quite attractive, believe it or not.
Offshore Wind Farms
There are many offshore wind farm locations around and there’s no doubt many more will be built in the future. There are many different locations that are suitable for wind power generation but situating them off the coast, although more difficult, is advantageous for many reasons, not least of all the reduced visual impact.
Offshore wind turbines are located in the sea to produce energy from the generally higher wind speeds that can be found there. Because seaside locations are generally very windy due to the tides coming in and the wind on the water, it can be a good location for a turbine. The average wind speed is usually higher on the water because the water has less surface roughness and can utilize more energy from the wind.
When the wind turbines are set in the seabed they are not placed in straight rows but in a kind of fan shape so that the turbulence created from the blades on each turbine does not affect the other wind turbines. This makes them more efficient.
However, there are issues and concerns with how wildlife is affected by these towers in their nesting and habitats but it does not seem to have as great an impact as feared.
There is another concern that the shoreline wind farms are not seen as attractive to many people who visit our coastline. Everyone has their opinion but it has to be said that some people like to see these modern-day wind mills and find them attractive. The size of the towers can be reduced to reduce their visual impact but in general the shorter the tower the less amount of energy will be generated. Luckily, they don’t spoil the view as much when they are out on the water with the added benefit that the noise they make cannot be heard on land. Even close to shore turbines can be seen but not heard.
Overall, off shore wind turbines are here to stay and there are advantages and disadvantages to them. For instance, when they are built offshore it may cost more money in the long run due to higher maintenance costs.
The problem with offshore wind farms is that the salt in the water and air is very corrosive to steel and will reduce the expected lifetime of these turbines which means they will need replacing sooner. We have to weigh the pros and cons of offshore wind turbines carefully to see whether or not they are financially viable in the long term.
