Environmental impact of wind energy: Synthesis and Review

Jakob Mann; Jonas Teilmann

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035001

Environmental impact of wind energy: Synthesis and Review

Jakob Mann
, Jonas Teilmann

Aarhus University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

One purpose of wind turbines is to provide pollution-free electric power at a reasonable price in an environmentally sound way. In this focus issue the latest research on the environmental impact of wind farms is presented. Offshore wind farms affect the marine fauna in both positive and negative ways. For example, some farms are safe havens for porpoises while other farms show fewer harbor porpoises even after ten years. Atmospheric computer experiments are carried out to investigate the possible impact and resource of future massive installations of wind turbines. The following questions are treated. What is the global capacity for energy production by the wind? Will the added turbulence and reduced wind speeds generated by massive wind farms cool or heat the surface? Can wind farms affect precipitation? It is also shown through life-cycle analysis how wind energy can reduce the atmospheric emission of eight air pollutants. Finally, noise generation and its impact on humans are studied.

Original language	English
Article number	035001
Journal	Environmental Research Letters
Volume	8
Issue number	3
Number of pages	3
ISSN	1748-9318
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035001
Publication status	Published - 2013

Bibliographical note

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 14 Life Below Water

Keywords

Offshore wind farm
Benthos
Birds
Marine mammals
Climate impact
Wind energy
Atmospheric models
Life-cycle assessment

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10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035001

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title = "Environmental impact of wind energy: Synthesis and Review",

abstract = "One purpose of wind turbines is to provide pollution-free electric power at a reasonable price in an environmentally sound way. In this focus issue the latest research on the environmental impact of wind farms is presented. Offshore wind farms affect the marine fauna in both positive and negative ways. For example, some farms are safe havens for porpoises while other farms show fewer harbor porpoises even after ten years. Atmospheric computer experiments are carried out to investigate the possible impact and resource of future massive installations of wind turbines. The following questions are treated. What is the global capacity for energy production by the wind? Will the added turbulence and reduced wind speeds generated by massive wind farms cool or heat the surface? Can wind farms affect precipitation? It is also shown through life-cycle analysis how wind energy can reduce the atmospheric emission of eight air pollutants. Finally, noise generation and its impact on humans are studied.",

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PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - One purpose of wind turbines is to provide pollution-free electric power at a reasonable price in an environmentally sound way. In this focus issue the latest research on the environmental impact of wind farms is presented. Offshore wind farms affect the marine fauna in both positive and negative ways. For example, some farms are safe havens for porpoises while other farms show fewer harbor porpoises even after ten years. Atmospheric computer experiments are carried out to investigate the possible impact and resource of future massive installations of wind turbines. The following questions are treated. What is the global capacity for energy production by the wind? Will the added turbulence and reduced wind speeds generated by massive wind farms cool or heat the surface? Can wind farms affect precipitation? It is also shown through life-cycle analysis how wind energy can reduce the atmospheric emission of eight air pollutants. Finally, noise generation and its impact on humans are studied.

AB - One purpose of wind turbines is to provide pollution-free electric power at a reasonable price in an environmentally sound way. In this focus issue the latest research on the environmental impact of wind farms is presented. Offshore wind farms affect the marine fauna in both positive and negative ways. For example, some farms are safe havens for porpoises while other farms show fewer harbor porpoises even after ten years. Atmospheric computer experiments are carried out to investigate the possible impact and resource of future massive installations of wind turbines. The following questions are treated. What is the global capacity for energy production by the wind? Will the added turbulence and reduced wind speeds generated by massive wind farms cool or heat the surface? Can wind farms affect precipitation? It is also shown through life-cycle analysis how wind energy can reduce the atmospheric emission of eight air pollutants. Finally, noise generation and its impact on humans are studied.

KW - Offshore wind farm

KW - Benthos

KW - Birds

KW - Marine mammals

KW - Climate impact

KW - Wind energy

KW - Atmospheric models

KW - Life-cycle assessment

U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035001

DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035001

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VL - 8

JO - Environmental Research Letters

JF - Environmental Research Letters

IS - 3

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ER -

Environmental impact of wind energy: Synthesis and Review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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