What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy?

[jeffrheet]

Wind power may be used to provide electricity to individual homes or other facilities on a self-reliant basis, with no need for fuel or other materials to be supplied. Wind can also generate power for large numbers of people, using larger turbines connected to an electrical grid. Some people consider the turbines to have an undesirable appearance, especially when there are very tall units and/or large groups of them.

[greengiant]

Wind power may be used to provide electricity to individual homes or other facilities on a self-reliant basis, with no need for fuel or other materials to be supplied. Wind can also generate power for large numbers of people, using larger turbines connected to an electrical grid. Some people consider the turbines to have an undesirable appearance, especially when there are very tall units and/or large groups of them.

I don't think their appearance is the main reason people don't promote using them as energy sources. More so the fact that wind and solar power are intermittent and unreliable. Geography also comes into play; where you are located in the world depends on wind and solar effectiveness.

[AnzeL]

Solar and Wind power are not a main source of energy, their more of a support, they work to lower your electric bill, they don't wipe it out, although at times they may drastically reduce it.
Wind Turbines may not be suitable for all locations, but solar energy(solar panels) work almost everywhere. For more information on these subjects visit my site, elitecleanenergy.com
Stay Green ^^

[Levin Chris]

There are a range of advantages and disadvantages of wind energy to look at, including the many problems associated with wind turbines.

In this day and age, the world needs to look at the different natural energy sources available to us. Global warming could be due our energy craving lifestyle, so we should look into more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Advantages:



Wind energy is friendly to the surrounding environment, as no fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity from wind energy.


Wind turbines take up less space than the average power station. Windmills only have to occupy a few square meters for the base, this allows the land around the turbine to be used for many purposes, for example agriculture.


Newer technologies are making the extraction of wind energy much more efficient. The wind is free, and we are able to cash in on this free source of energy.


Wind turbines are a great resource to generate energy in remote locations, such as mountain communities and remote countryside. Wind turbines can be a range of different sizes in order to support varying population levels.


Another advantage of wind energy is that when combined with solar electricity, this energy source is great for developed and developing countries to provide a steady, reliable supply of electricity.

Disadvantages:



The main disadvantage regarding wind power is down to the winds unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds strength is too low to support a wind turbine or wind farm, and this is where the use of solar power or geothermal power could be great alternatives.


Wind turbines generally produce allot less electricity than the average fossil fuelled power station, requiring multiple wind turbines to be built in order to make an impact.


Wind turbine construction can be very expensive and costly to surrounding wildlife during the build process.


The noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine. This is fine if you live miles away, where you will hardly notice the noise, but what if you live within a few hundred meters of a turbine? This is a major disadvantage.


Protests and/or petitions usually confront any proposed wind farm development. People feel the countryside should be left in tact for everyone to enjoy it's beauty.

[AnzeL]

There are a range of advantages and disadvantages of wind energy to look at, including the many problems associated with wind turbines.

In this day and age, the world needs to look at the different natural energy sources available to us. Global warming could be due our energy craving lifestyle, so we should look into more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Advantages:



Wind energy is friendly to the surrounding environment, as no fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity from wind energy.


Wind turbines take up less space than the average power station. Windmills only have to occupy a few square meters for the base, this allows the land around the turbine to be used for many purposes, for example agriculture.


Newer technologies are making the extraction of wind energy much more efficient. The wind is free, and we are able to cash in on this free source of energy.


Wind turbines are a great resource to generate energy in remote locations, such as mountain communities and remote countryside. Wind turbines can be a range of different sizes in order to support varying population levels.


Another advantage of wind energy is that when combined with solar electricity, this energy source is great for developed and developing countries to provide a steady, reliable supply of electricity.

Disadvantages:



The main disadvantage regarding wind power is down to the winds unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds strength is too low to support a wind turbine or wind farm, and this is where the use of solar power or geothermal power could be great alternatives.


Wind turbines generally produce allot less electricity than the average fossil fuelled power station, requiring multiple wind turbines to be built in order to make an impact.


Wind turbine construction can be very expensive and costly to surrounding wildlife during the build process.


The noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine. This is fine if you live miles away, where you will hardly notice the noise, but what if you live within a few hundred meters of a turbine? This is a major disadvantage.


Protests and/or petitions usually confront any proposed wind farm development. People feel the countryside should be left in tact for everyone to enjoy it's beauty.

Well said, like I said before, turbines are great in producing energy, but only if you live in areas with high winds.
If not, then they act as support.

[IroNik]

Also due to the intermittent nature of wind power, it alone can not power and entire grid. It must be supplemented by a source of constant power, like coal, nuclear or something else. Same with solar.

[Lowel]

There are a range of advantages and disadvantages of wind energy to look at, including the many problems associated with wind turbines.

In this day and age, the world needs to look at the different natural energy sources available to us. Global warming could be due our energy craving lifestyle, so we should look into more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Advantages:



Wind energy is friendly to the surrounding environment, as no fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity from wind energy.


Wind turbines take up less space than the average power station. Windmills only have to occupy a few square meters for the base, this allows the land around the turbine to be used for many purposes, for example agriculture.


Newer technologies are making the extraction of wind energy much more efficient. The wind is free, and we are able to cash in on this free source of energy.


Wind turbines are a great resource to generate energy in remote locations, such as mountain communities and remote countryside. Wind turbines can be a range of different sizes in order to support varying population levels.


Another advantage of wind energy is that when combined with solar electricity, this energy source is great for developed and developing countries to provide a steady, reliable supply of electricity.

Disadvantages:



The main disadvantage regarding wind power is down to the winds unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds strength is too low to support a wind turbine or wind farm, and this is where the use of solar power or geothermal power could be great alternatives.


Wind turbines generally produce allot less electricity than the average fossil fuelled power station, requiring multiple wind turbines to be built in order to make an impact.


Wind turbine construction can be very expensive and costly to surrounding wildlife during the build process.


The noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine. This is fine if you live miles away, where you will hardly notice the noise, but what if you live within a few hundred meters of a turbine? This is a major disadvantage.


Protests and/or petitions usually confront any proposed wind farm development. People feel the countryside should be left in tact for everyone to enjoy it's beauty.

I disagree with you on all the noise pollution you claim a wind turbine makes. I work around jets and also happan to have a friend with wind turbines on his farm and for sure a jet engine is way louder. You can not hear a wind turbine even at a half mile away. But living close to it would make me nervous with the turbine moving all the time

[rrose]

The noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine. This is fine if you live miles away, where you will hardly notice the noise, but what if you live within a few hundred meters of a turbine? This is a major disadvantage.

[waterbaby]

I would tend to agree that appearance is not a major factor to most, .... consistence and reliability more so.

[AdvaPointSolar]

As what i have read, here are some facts about wind energy,

The advantages of wind energy are as follows:

- it is ample
- renewable
- widely distributed
- no pollution

Advantages:

- wind cannot be predicted
- non-dispatchable
-

[SnellExperts]

I'm not that familiar with wind energy, but is there any way to store that excess energy? For when the wind isn't present then you would still have a reserve until the wind picked back up.