Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the world. The renewable and clean source of energy allows efficient use of land space and has a low operating cost. Apart from this, it is sustainable, creates jobs, and does not pollute the air like coal or natural gas. Despite all of these, there are still a few challenges with using wind energy. Some popular ones are:
Affects animals and wildlife
Wind turbines pose a threat to birds whose migratory paths or habitats interfere directly with their movement. Although the problem has been reduced by properly siting the wind plants, there must be ongoing development and solutions to reduce the impact of wind turbines on animals.
Noise pollution
To be fair, wind turbines don’t affect the environment like conventional power plants. However, the turbines can be very noisy. If the turbine is situated in a rural area, then the noise may not be an issue. Interestingly, technological advancements and newer designs have created less noisy wind turbines. Check here for technology and solutions in the wind industry.
It may not be the most profitable use of land
Some people would argue that the land used for wind-turbine installation must compete with other alternative land uses that may be more valuable than electricity generation. There are also concerns over how the blades affect the aesthetics and visual appearance of a landscape.
Expensive installation and maintenance cost
The massive structures require substantial upfront costs. Since the wind farms are located in rural areas, away from cities where the energy demand is high, it involves laying costly transmission lines. The cost of maintenance is also high.
Unpredictable energy generation
Wind energy is intermittent as the wind itself can cause a disruption. This is because the wind blows at various speeds, and it can be challenging to predict the amount of energy the turbine can generate at a period.
Conclusion
Wind energy offers a lot of advantages. Regardless of the challenges, research efforts aimed at improving the technology will revolutionize energy generation with time.
