Question
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy?
Answer
Wind energy is one of the fastest growing energy sources in the world and, as technology develops, wind turbines will continue to become cheaper to construct and maintain. Wind energy is the most efficient form of renewable energy, converting kinetic energy from the wind, through a turbine and a generator, into electrical energy. Turbines can be designed to rotate and face towards the strongest wind, and if they are well situated they can be active for most of the year. However, when winds are too weak, they will not work, and when winds are too strong, they must be turned off to prevent damage to the turbine. Another common complaint is that the wind farms are unattractive, ruining the landscape, and that they produce high volumes of noise. A response to this problem is the construction of offshore wind farms, which are much more expensive at almost double the cost, but can experience much more regular winds and attract fewer complaints from the general public.
