The Environment
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The Environment
What is the Greenhouse Effect and how is it related to Climate Change?
How much Carbon Dioxide is released by the electricity generation sector?
Why are renewable energy sources, like wind power, important?
Can wind farms really reduce the consumption of fossil fuels?
Are there other benefits to wind generation?
What is the impact on the local environment?
What is the impact on wildlife?
What are the long-term impacts of wind farming?
How much land do wind farms use?
Where are wind farms usually located?
What do people think of wind turbines as a form of generation?
Are wind farms tourist attractions?
What is the experience overseas?
Public perception
Visit a working wind farm
What is the Greenhouse Effect and how is it related to Climate Change?
The Greenhouse Effect is a natural phenomenon that is crucial to almost all life on the planet. This term describes the process whereby gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) trap heat in the atmosphere thereby keeping the Earth warm enough for the numerous species that currently inhabit it. The balance between the heat that is retained and that which is radiated back into space, where the temperature is only a couple of degrees above absolute zero, is a delicate one that is regulated by a variety of factors one of which is the mix of gases that currently make up the atmosphere that surrounds the planet. Climate Change is the name that has been given to the process whereby the earth's climate is being altered as a direct result of the changes that mankind has wrought on the mix of gases in the atmosphere. Most of this recent change is thought to be the result of the release of carbon dioxide from the extensive burning of carbon based fossil fuels (principally coal, natural gas and oil) over the last 150 years or so since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
How much Carbon Dioxide is released by the electricity generation sector?
There is a view that most of New Zealand's carbon dioxide emissions are caused by the electricity generation industry. In fact, this view is not correct and may have arisen from Australia where 90 per cent of electrical energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels. As a result the Australian electricity generation sector, which is the largest single source of greenhouse gases in that economy, contributes 45 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions in addition to which Australia has the highest per capita emissions of carbon dioxide in the developed world. The situation in New Zealand is somewhat different since 50 to 60 per cent of our electricity is generated by hydro stations, 10 per cent by geothermal stations and the remainder from a mix of natural gas and coal. In fact, the single largest source of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2003 (49 per cent) was the agricultural sector, 19.3 per cent of emissions were from transportation while only 7.7 per cent were the result of electricity generation. However, there is a danger that, as a result of the rapid decline of the Maui gas field, the generation sector will be responsible for rapidly increasing carbon dioxide emissions in the years ahead as a result of a switch to coal as a fuel for electricity generation. The best way to avoid this happening is to ensure that the rapid, responsible and sustainable introduction of wind turbines is encouraged.
Why are renewable energy sources, like wind power, important?
For every unit of power that is generated by a wind turbine, a unit of power need not be produced by another form of generation (hydro, geothermal, coal or gas). Since our ability to increase the amount of electricity generated from both hydro and geothermal stations is currently limited it would appear that the bulk of new generation capacity that is going to be added in the future will, in the absence of wind turbines, have to be from coal and gas fired generation. By using wind turbines it is possible to avoid using our finite reserves of fossil fuels in coal and gas fired power stations. There are some that would argue that since the reserves of gas and coal are limited we should not be burning them anyway but should be using them more intelligently. Wind energy would allow us to do that. There are others that would argue that by using wind energy to generate electricity it frees up coal for export and/or saves those reserves for future generations. There are others that note that by using wind energy one can avoid emissions of large amounts of carbon dioxide, a gas that has been extensively linked to climate change, and other pollutants associated with the burning of both coal and natural gas. Whichever way you look at it there are significant advantages to be had from using our world class wind energy resource to generate economic, clean and sustainable electricity.
Can wind farms really reduce the consumption of fossil fuels?
In short: Yes! The output of an operational wind farm is fed into the electricity network and employed by a user of electricity somewhere on the system. For every unit of electricity generated by a wind farm, one unit of electricity does not have to be generated by another source. By building more wind turbines we can delay investment in coal and natural gas fired power stations and, where such investment has already taken place, the use of wind turbines means that it will be possible to avoid using irreplaceable coal and/or natural gas reserves. Our limited hydrocarbon reserves can therefore be retained as a resource for future generations. If we have 1,000 MW of wind turbines in New Zealand they would generate 3.5 Terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually or enough to meet the needs of about 450,000 average New Zealand households. By generating this much power from wind turbines, rather than from a coal fired power station, it would be possible to avoid burning about 1.5 million tonnes of coal annually or 30 million tonnes of coal over 20 years (the life of a typical wind farm). In case you are wondering what 30 million tonnes of coal would look like: It would fill 615,700 coal rail wagons, which, if linked together in a single line, would stretch over 9,000 km.
Are there other benefits to wind generation?
Rather than generating large amounts of power in one centralised location, wind farms may be located close to areas where the electricity is actually used. This means that the losses usually associated with the transmission of electricity over long distances (as much as 10 per cent of the total transported) can be significantly reduced. Such 'embedded' generation can also inject significant amounts of money into the local economy with clear benefits for all.
What is the impact on the local environment?
Every form of electricity generation is going to have an impact on the environment and wind turbines are no exception. However wind turbines have one of the lowest environmental impacts of all forms of power generation. Since the area occupied by wind turbines is so small the impact on the natural environment is usually minimal. Having said this, wind turbines typically need to be located in elevated and exposed places and are therefore usually a visually prominent feature on the landscape. There is little doubt that in terms of local environmental impact, it is the visual aspects that will tend to dominate debate. In terms of other local environmental impacts, wind developers are often able to integrate beneficial local environmental measures into their construction and operational activities. This can include the collection of indigenous plant species, the planting of shelterbelts or habitat areas, erosion control measures, or easing fire hazard management through improved site access. Income to landowners hosting wind generators can ease pressure on agricultural land by reducing the stocking or cropping of marginal land. In addition to which these landowners are often able to adopt superior pest, weed and erosion management practices as well as affording environmental planting and other land care initiatives.
What is the impact on wildlife?
Wind farms undergo stringent environmental approval processes including detailed studies of the impact on wildlife. Any adverse environmental impacts can generally be minimised and positive outcomes can usually be achieved through the integration of environmental works by the developer and host landowners.
What are the long-term impacts of wind farming?
The long-term negative impacts of wind farms are negligible. During operation there is no depletion of a non-renewable resource. When the wind farm reaches the end of its useful life it can be removed and the bulk of materials used in its construction can be recycled. There is no lasting residual impact on the landscape, which can be returned to essentially the same state that it was in before the wind farm was built. Wind farm development approvals will have clauses which, as a condition of the resource consent, will require developers to decommission wind turbines at the end of their design life or if they cease operation for an extended period of time.
How much land do wind farms use?
In New Zealand the amount of land occupied by a wind farm may not be as much of an issue as it is in many other much more densely populated countries or regions such as Europe or Japan. Nonetheless many people are often surprised to learn that only about 3 to 4 per cent of the area of a typical wind farm is taken up by the turbines themselves or access tracks, substations etc. The remaining 96 to 97 per cent of land remains free for other uses such as grazing stock.
Where are wind farms usually located?
Wind farms are usually located in exposed and windy landscapes and the value placed upon these landscapes and the perceived impacts of development upon them vary considerably. Generally responses depend on both the individual observer and the site being considered. Wind farms tend to get more support than many other visually prominent forms of development because they produce clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately help to mitigate climate change and to increase the nation's security of supply. While these factors are all very important there are some landscapes that are even more important and a balance clearly needs to be struck. Like any other human-made structures such as bridges and lighthouses, well designed wind farms can give interesting perspectives and furnish the landscape with new architectural and heritage values.
What do people think of wind turbines as a form of generation?
A nationwide May 2004 poll found that 82 per cent of respondents approved of New Zealand generating more of its power from wind turbines. This was the highest level of approval for any of the five forms of generation surveyed (wind, hydro, geothermal, coal and natural gas). A nationwide survey in Australia in September 2003 found even higher levels of support, with 95 per cent supporting the construction of wind farms to meet Australia's rapidly increasing demand for electricity.
Are wind farms tourist attractions?
Yes. Hundreds of people visit a wind farm somewhere in New Zealand every week. Some of these are casual observers who stop at roadside displays, others visit information centres located near turbines or participate in organised tours. In a number of cases visitors are able to walk up to the base of the tower in order to be able to see the turbines first hand and to make their own judgments about the level of sound emissions associated with them.
What is the experience overseas?
Utility scale wind turbines are a relatively new phenomenon in New Zealand. However, we can look to the extensive experience that has already been gained overseas, principally in Europe. Nonetheless we do need to remain aware of the differences between our landscapes and those in other parts of the world. Tourism Denmark has the highest concentration of turbines in the world. They have approximately 6,000 machines in a land area that is about 16 per cent that of the whole of New Zealand. In that country hotels, guesthouses and campsites tend to use wind turbines for 'green tourism' promotion. This is particularly targeted towards the German market where the public is known to have a high level of interest in both environmental issues and new technology. Germany has the highest number of wind turbines in the world and generates approximately five per cent of their electricity from the wind. At the end of December 2002, the northern state of Schleswig Holstein had 1,800 MW of wind turbines that generated nearly 30% of that region's electricity. A 2002 study to assess the effects of onshore and offshore wind parks on tourism was undertaken by the Schleswig Holstein Tourist Board. It concluded that the wind industry does not affect tourism in the region. Visitors are aware of the increasing number of turbines in the landscape but they do not influence visitors' behaviour. In a Scottish study 43 per cent of responding visitors said the presence of wind farms had a positive effect on their impressions of Argyll as a place to visit. The same number said that the presence of a wind farm would not make a difference to their impression. Surveys in the UK show that for 94 per cent of visitors to North Cornwall (the birthplace of the modern British wind industry) the presence of wind farms has had no adverse impact on the likelihood of them visiting North Cornwall again. The majority of the remaining six per cent said that the presence of the wind farms would actually encourage them to make another visit. Such public interest has led to a steady increase in the use of serviced accommodation in the area of the Delabole Wind Farm (which has been in operation since 1991).
Public perception
Research from a wide variety of sources in various countries shows that support for wind power is consistently between 70 and 80 per cent amongst the general public. In Denmark the share of electricity produced by wind turbines has grown six-fold to its current levels. Nonetheless a 2001 poll showed that 86 per cent of Danes supported wind energy with 68 per cent wanting Denmark to install more wind turbines and 18 per cent believing the current installed capacity to be sufficient. The 68 per cent wanting to see more turbines installed was slightly higher than the amounts recorded in public opinion surveys taken five and 10 years before the 2001 poll.
Visit a working wind farm
Most wind farms are located on private land so it is not always possible to walk up to the wind turbines. However, in New Zealand, wind farm developers are increasingly looking to include a viewing area at which members of the public are able to safely pull off the road in order to learn more about the project. For instance the recently commissioned Te Apiti wind farm, near the city of Palmerston North, has a visitor's area. The Hau Nui wind farm just outside Martinborough also has a viewing and information area. You can also visit the Brooklyn wind turbine just on the Wellington City limits. It has an information centre and is located on public land.
Last updated: Tuesday, 24 October 2006
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