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Myth 6. Wind turbines are taking over the countryside Fact: There are now some 1,769 turbines in 137 locations across the UK.1 Generating 10 per cent of our electricity from renewables by 2010 could mean an increase by around another one and half times the current number.2 Less than 1/20,000th of the UK (800–1,200 hectares) would be used for foundations and access roads 3 , while land between turbines can still be used for farming or natural habitat. A typical wind farm of about 20 turbines extends over an area of about one to two square kilometres. But only a small fraction of this land, about 1-2 per cent, is actually occupied by the turbines and access tracks. The bulk of the land is unaffected and can continue to be used for agriculture, grazing, etc. To produce 10 per cent of the UK’s current electricity from the wind would use about 1 per cent of the total UK land area, with the turbines occupying only about 0.02 per cent of this. When the wind farm has finished generating, the turbines can be dismantled, and the land returned completely to its previous use. Sources: 1. British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), 01.03.2007. |
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