Co-content contributor: Thomas Cluett, Grand Bank, NL
In today’s blog, we’ll expose the harsh realities of wind energy production—soaring material costs, constant maintenance headaches, and unreliable warranties—that make it clear why wind energy is a bad idea.
We’ll also examine the environmental impacts of wind energy, including its effects on land and marine ecosystems, health concerns for nearby residents, and the economic implications for rural communities—both globally and here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
By breaking down these murky issues, we'll look at the underlying problems and concerns with wind energy and spur informed discussion about its place in our future.
As the global community strives to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, wind energy has emerged as a leading renewable resource. However, beyond its sustainable facade, wind energy presents a range of challenges that impact the environment, human health, and the industry itself. This comprehensive overview delves into the multifaceted issues associated with wind energy—from the rising costs and technological gaps in the industry to the environmental and health concerns arising from turbine operations both onshore and offshore.
Top Wind Energy Problems Facing the Industry
Rising Cost of Materials for Manufacturing and Replacement
The increasing prices of raw materials are driving up the costs associated with manufacturing and replacing wind energy components.
Availability of Lubricants for Maintenance
Limited access to essential lubricants poses challenges for the regular maintenance of wind turbines.
Managing Common Wind Turbine Maintenance Problems
Operators face difficulties in efficiently addressing routine maintenance issues, which can lead to increased downtime and costs.
OEMs Overwhelmed by Warranty Claims
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are struggling to handle the surge in warranty claims due to equipment failures or defects.
Technology Gaps Throughout the Industry
Significant technological deficiencies hinder the advancement and efficiency of wind energy operations, affecting overall industry growth.
Cement-Related Health and Environmental Concerns
According to a leading wind turbine base construction company out of the United States, CTE-Wind, Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) are becoming more and more powerful and the hub heights are increasing by the day. As a result, the concrete volume can reach these days to more than 1000 cubic meters per foundation.
Carcinogenic Properties of Cement
Hexavalent Chromium in Cement - Cement contains hexavalent chromium, a known human carcinogen. However, epidemiological studies have shown inconclusive results regarding its impact on cancer development.
Toxicity of Cement Dust
Health Issues from Inhaling Cement Dust - Exposure to dry cement dust can lead to respiratory issues such as silicosis, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses due to inhalation of fine particles.
Chemical Leaching from Concrete
Potential Contaminants in Concrete Leachate - Concrete rubble can leach harmful contaminants, including antimony, arsenic, barium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, sulfur (as sulfate), and zinc.
Factors affecting leaching include particle size and the age of the concrete.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Studies are evaluating whether these contaminants in concrete leachate meet state water quality standards.
If contaminants exceed safe levels, steps will be taken to better protect water bodies and groundwater.
Negative Effects of Wind Turbines in the Ocean
Impact of Offshore Wind Developments on Marine Life
Noise and Vibration
Damaging Effects on Marine Species
The noise and vibration generated during the construction and operation of offshore wind turbines can be harmful to fish and other marine life.
Elevated noise levels can disrupt communication, mating rituals, and navigation, leading to behavioral changes or displacement from natural habitats.
Increase in Ocean Noise
Effects on Marine Life Behavior
Offshore wind farms contribute to increased ocean noise, which can affect the behaviors of various marine species, including their feeding and breeding patterns.
Introduction of Electromagnetic Fields
Impact on Navigation and Communication
Electromagnetic fields emitted by underwater power cables can interfere with the navigation, predator detection, communication, and mating abilities of fish and shellfish.
Anchoring Depth of Offshore Wind Turbines
Installation Depths and Foundations
Each turbine is anchored to the seabed using steel foundations, usually installed at depths of around 20 meters to 60 meters.
The strategic placement of wind farms involves selecting locations with consistently high wind speeds to ensure efficient electricity generation.
The depth and method of anchoring can impact seabed ecosystems, potentially affecting marine life during both installation and operation phases.
Health and Safety Concerns Near Wind Turbines
Safe Distance to Live from a Wind Turbine
Recommended Setback Distances
According to the wind proponents, for larger wind turbines up to 100 meters high, it is often recommended that residential areas be at least one mile (approximately 1.6 kilometers) away.
For turbines above 100 meters, a distance of at least one and a half miles (approximately 2.4 kilometers) is suggested to minimize potential impacts.
Alberta Legislation Creates Buffer Zones
The government of Alberta, Canada, is proposing new legislation to have a setback of at least 35 km from parks, protected areas and designated 'pristine viewscapes'.
The new legislation will restricts developments in national parks and UNESCO heritage sites, and creates a buffer along the eastern slopes of the Rockies where wind projects would be forbidden.
Reasons for Setback Distances
Setback distances are established to mitigate issues such as noise pollution, shadow flicker, and potential health concerns related to low-frequency noise.
Regulatory Variations
Regulations on safe distances vary by country and local jurisdictions, often based on turbine size, local geography, and community input.
Wind Turbine Syndrome
Reported Health Issues Near Wind Farms
Some residents living near wind farms have reported a range of health issues, often grouped under the term "Wind Turbine Syndrome." Reported symptoms may include:
Headaches
Sleep problems
Night terrors
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Mood problems (irritability, anxiety)
Concentration and memory problems
Issues with equilibrium, dizziness, and nausea
Ammonia's Environmental Impact
Ammonia's Contribution to Air Pollution
Effects on Air Quality and Human Health
Formation of Fine Particulate Matter
Gaseous ammonia reacts with other pollutants in the atmosphere to form fine particles of ammonium salts. These fine particulates can penetrate deep into the lungs, affecting human breathing and contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Ammonia contributes to the formation of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas that exacerbates climate change. It can also aid in the formation of particulate matter and clouds, which may have a temporary cooling effect but do not offset the overall warming.
Environmental Impacts
Soil and Ecosystem Chemistry Alteration
Ammonia deposition can alter soil chemistry, negatively affecting sensitive plant species like sphagnum moss and heathers found in peatland ecosystems.
Contribution to Eutrophication
Excess ammonia can lead to nutrient overload in aquatic ecosystems, causing algal blooms and reducing water quality.
Ammonia's Legal Status in Canada
Designation as a Toxic Substance - Under Section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), ammonia is considered "toxic" because it may constitute a danger to the environment or to human health.
Regulation Rather Than Prohibition
While ammonia is regulated due to its potential harmful effects, it is not illegal in Canada. Regulations are in place to manage its release into the environment to protect human health and ecosystems.
How Ammonia Feeds and Pollutes the World
Role in Agriculture
Ammonia is a key component in the production of fertilizers, supporting global food production by providing essential nutrients for plant growth.
Environmental Pollution
Ammonia emissions from agricultural activities contribute to the formation of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas that exacerbates climate change.
Formation of Particulate Matter and Clouds
Ammonia aids in the formation of particulate matter and clouds, which can have a cooling effect on the Earth's surface by reflecting sunlight back into space. However, this does not offset the overall warming effect caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Hydrogen Combustion and Air Pollution
Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions
While burning hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide emissions, it can produce nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), including nitrogen dioxide, which are harmful pollutants. High-temperature combustion of hydrogen in air leads to the formation of NOₓ due to the reaction between nitrogen and oxygen.
Impact on Air Quality
Nitrogen dioxide contributes to air pollution, leading to respiratory problems and the formation of ground-level ozone and particulate matter.
References
Wind Energy Materials Cost, National Renewable Energy Laboratory - https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy19osti/71844.pdf
Lubrication Challenges in Wind Turbines, Windpower Engineering & Development - https://www.windpowerengineering.com/lubrication-challenges-in-wind-turbines/
Operations & Maintenance in Wind Energy, U.S. Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/operations-maintenance
Warranty Management in the Wind Energy Industry, TÜV SÜD - https://www.tuvsud.com/en/resource-centre/white-papers/warranty-management-in-the-wind-energy-industry
Wind Energy Technology Report, International Energy Agency - https://www.iea.org/reports/wind-energy
Health Effects of Hexavalent Chromium, Occupational Safety and Health Administration - https://www.osha.gov/hexavalent-chromium/health-effects
Silica Dust and Your Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/silica/default.html
Leaching Characteristics of Concrete, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100EU1C.PDF?Dockey=P100EU1C.PDF
Construction Site Stormwater Discharge, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - https://www.epa.gov/npdes/construction-site-stormwater-discharge
Ocean Noise and Marine Life, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/noise.html
Underwater Noise from Offshore Wind Farms, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - https://tethys.pnnl.gov/publications/underwater-noise-offshore-wind-farms
Electromagnetic Fields and Marine Organisms, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management - https://www.boem.gov/environment/environmental-studies/electromagnetic-fields-emf-and-marine-organisms
Offshore Wind Technology Overview, U.S. Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/offshore-wind-technology
Wind Turbine Setback Requirements, National Wind Watch - https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-turbine-setback-requirements/
Noise Exposure and Wind TurbinesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/reduce/windturbines.html
Wind Energy Laws and Regulations, U.S. Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/wind-energy-laws-and-regulations
Wind Turbine Syndrome: Fact or Fiction?, National Center for Biotechnology Information - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3653647/
Wind Turbines and Health, World Health Organization - https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/wind-turbines-and-health
Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region, World Health Organization - https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/noise/environmental-noise-guidelines-for-the-european-region
Psychological Factors and Wind Turbine Syndrome, Environmental Research Journal - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935116300486
Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution
Impact of Ammonia Air Pollution on Biodiversity, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - https://www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/news/impact-ammonia-air-pollution-biodiversity
EMEP/EEA Air Pollutant Emission Inventory Guidebook 2019, European Environment Agency - https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/emep-eea-guidebook-2019
Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, Government of Canada - https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-15.31/
Ammonia Regulations in Canada, Government of Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/substances-list/ammonia.html
Ammonia in Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - http://www.fao.org/3/y2781e/y2781e03.htm
IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/
Atmospheric Effects of Ammonia, Atmospheric Environment Journal - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231019305434
Hydrogen Combustion and NOₓ Emissions, U.S. Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-combustion
Basic Information About NO₂, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - https://www.epa.gov/no2-pollution/basic-information-about-no2
Fishing Community Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy, NOAA Fisheries - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/offshore-wind-energy-development-and-fisheries
Economic Impacts on Fishing Communities, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management - https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/renewable-energy-program/BOEM-2018-020.pdf
Maritime Traffic and Offshore Wind,The Maritime Executive - https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/the-impact-of-offshore-wind-farms-on-maritime-traffic
Wind Turbines and Radar Interference, U.S. Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/wind-turbines-and-radar
Offshore Wind and Fishing Gear Interactions, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center - https://www.masscec.com/offshore-wind-and-fisheries-gear-interaction-study
Safety Implications of Offshore Wind Farms, UK P&I Club - https://www.ukpandi.com/news-and-resources/briefings/2019/offshore-wind-farms-and-navigational-safety/
Wind Turbine Bases - https://www.cte-wind.com/us/solution/gravity-foundation-16/
Wind energy developments won't be allowed within 35 km of Rocky Mountains: province, The Calgary Herald - https://calgaryherald.com/business/energy/alberta-wind-energy-developments-not-allowed-near-rocky-mountains
Typical Wind Turbine Structure Foundations, Research Gate, https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Typical-foundations-for-a-wind-turbine-structure_fig1_365078106
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