Environmental issues associated with wind energy – A review

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2014.10.074

Renewable Energy

Volume 75, March 2015, Pages 911-921

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2014.10.074 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
We present a comprehensive review of environmental studies on wind energy.
•
We summarize environmental impacts brought about by wind farms.
•
We identify some measures for wind power adverse effect mitigation.
•
The review calls for attentions from researchers, investors, and authorities.

Abstract

Recognized as one of the most mature renewable energy technologies, wind energy has been developing rapidly in recent years. Many countries have shown interest in utilizing wind power, but they are concerned about the environmental impacts of the wind farms. The continuous growth of the wind energy industry in many parts of the world, especially in some developing countries and ecologically vulnerable regions, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of wind farm induced environmental impacts. The environmental issues caused by wind farms were reviewed in this paper by summarizing existing studies. Available mitigation measures to minimize these adverse environmental impacts were discussed in this document. The intention of this paper is to provide state-of-the-art knowledge about environmental issues associated with wind energy development as well as strategies to mitigate environmental impacts to wind energy planners and developers.

Introduction

Combustion of fossil fuels is believed to be one of the primary factors contributing to global warming. Energy researchers, industrial professionals, and government decision makers have increasingly turned their attention to renewable energy sources in an effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Energy technologies such as biomass, wind, and geothermal are developing very fast and are becoming more commercially competitive [1]. According to the predictions of the European Renewable Energy Council, about half of the total global energy supplies will come from renewable energy in 2040 [2]. Johansson et al. [3] predicted that there would be a large increase in renewable energy production and efficiency before 2050. This increase of renewable energy use should lead to a substantial decrease of carbon dioxide emissions.

As one of the most mature renewable energy technologies, wind power has seen accelerated growth during the past decade. Wind power has become the preferred option of energy for planners and national governments, who are seeking to diversify energy resources, to reduce CO₂ emissions, to create new industries, and to provide new employment opportunities. According to the latest Global Wind Report, the total global wind power installation was 318.105 GW at the end of 2013 [4]. However, wind energy developments are not free of adverse environmental impacts. A poor understanding of these environmental impacts is a serious concern for the wind energy industry especially in developing countries and ecologically vulnerable regions [5], [6].

In this paper, the authors reviewed potential environmental issues caused by wind farm developments, summarized evidence collected through existing case studies, and identified methodologies to mitigate these adverse environmental impacts. This review study provides energy industry planners and developers with an understanding about how an inappropriate wind farm project design could adversely affect a local environment. Mitigation efforts should be completed during the design, construction, and operation phases of a wind farm in order to avoid damages to vulnerable ecological systems.

Section snippets

Wind energy induced environmental issues

A wind power plant uses wind turbines to convert wind energy into electricity or mechanical energy. The output power of a turbine is the function of the density of the air, the area swept by the turbine blades, and the cube of the wind speed [7]. The primary environmental issues related to wind turbine usage include wildlife safety, bio-system disturbance, noise, visual pollution, electromagnetic interference, and local climate change [8], [9]. These issues can be grouped into ecological

Mitigation of wind energy environmental risks

Wind farms may generate various environmental issues as reviewed in aforementioned literature. Those issues should be considered during the design and development phases of wind farms. Recent publications have explored public concerns about the negative effects of wind turbines [9], [11]. Mitigation strategies are discussed in the following sections in order to involve more researchers and engineers in this campaign.

Conclusions

Renewable energy is one solution for the global energy problem. In addition, renewable energy has beneficial socioeconomic impacts such as diversifying the energy supply, increasing regional and rural development opportunities, and creating domestic industry and employment opportunities [142]. However, renewable energy can create environmental issues in a habitat or a community. Even though the environmental impact of wind turbines is still a controversial topic, the impact should not be

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the support offered by the following programs: Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration (SHUES2011A04), National Natural Science Foundation of China (51208382), Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20120072120001), Shanghai Science Foundation (12ZR1433500), Shanghai Pujiang Scholar (13PJ1407900), Shanghai Science and Technology Supported Program (13dz1203402), and the State Key Laboratory of

References (152)

I.B. Fridleifsson
Geothermal energy for the benefit of the people
Renew Sustain Energy Rev
(2001)
R. Saidur et al.
Environmental impact of wind energy
Renew Sustain Energy Rev
(2011)
D.Y.C. Leung et al.
Wind energy development and its environmental impact: a review
Renew Sustain Energy Rev
(2012)
F. Lima et al.
Strategic impact management of wind power projects
Renew Sustain Energy Rev
(2013)
Tabassum-Abbasi et al.
Wind energy: increasing deployment, rising environmental concerns
Renew Sustain Energy Rev
(2014)
S.R. Loss et al.
Estimates of bird collision mortality at wind facilities in the contiguous United States
Biol Conserv
(2013)
B.K. Sovacool
The avian benefits of wind energy: a 2009 update
Renew Energy
(2013)
G. Marsh
WTS: the avian dilemma
Renew Energy Focus
(2007)
M. de Lucas et al.
Griffon vulture at wind farms in Southern Spain: distribution of fatalities and active mitigation measures
Biol Conserv
(2012)
B.K. Sovacool
Contextualizing avian mortality: a preliminary appraisal of bird and bat fatalities from wind, fossil-fuel, and nuclear electricity
Energy Policy
(2009)

R. Foote

The wind is blowing the right way for birds

Renew Energy Focus

(2010)

M. Desholm

Avian sensitivity to mortality: prioritizing migratory bird species for assessment at proposed wind farms

J Environ Manag

(2009)

E.L. Dahl et al.

Reduced breeding success in white-tailed eagles at Smøa wind farm western Norway, is caused by mortality and displacement

Biol Conserv

(2012)

C.C. Voigt et al.

The catchment area of wind farms for European bats: a plea for international regulations

Biol Conserv

(2012)

J.T. Reubens et al.

Aggregation and feeding behaviour of pouting (Trisopterusluscus) at wind turbines in the Belgian part of the North Sea

Fish Res

(2011)

J. Berkenhagen et al.

Decision bias in marine spatial planning of offshore wind farms: problems of singular versus cumulative assessments of economic impacts on fisheries

Mar Policy

(2010)

R. Kikuchi

Risk formulation for the sonic effects of offshore wind farms on fish in the EU region

Mar Pollut Bull

(2010)

P.M. Thompson et al.

Assessing the responses of coastal cetaceans to the construction of offshore wind turbines

Mar Pollut Bull

(2010)

G.P. Van den Berg

Effects of the wind profile at night on wind turbine sound

J Sound Vib

(2004)

R.L. Thayer et al.

Altamont: public perceptions of a wind energy landscape

Landscape Urban Plan

(1987)

D.A. Katsaprakakis

A review of the environmental and human impacts from wind parks. A case study for the prefecture of Lasithi, Crete

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

(2012)

S. Krohn et al.

On public attitudes towards wind power

Renew Energy

(1999)

K. Ek

Public and private attitudes towards “green” electricity: the case of Swedish wind power

Energy Policy

(2005)

J.P. Hurtado et al.

Spanish method of visual impact evaluation in wind farms

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

(2004)

I. Kralova et al.

Biofuels-renewable energy sources: a review

J Dispersion Sci Technol

(2010)

T.B. Johansson et al.

Renewable fuels and electricity for a growing world economy: defining and achieving the potential

Energy Stud Rev

(1993)

GWEC (Global Wind Energy Council)

Global wind report: annual market update 2013

(2014)

J.M. Ellenbogen et al.

Wind turbine health impact study: report of independent expert panel

(2012)

National Research Council

Environmental impacts of wind-energy projects

(2007)

J. Mann et al.

Environmental impact of wind energy

Environ Res Lett

(2013)

A.L. Drewitt et al.

Assessing the impact of wind farms on birds

Ibis

(2006)

M. González et al.

Cantabrian Capercaillie signs disappeared after a wind farm construction

Chioglossa

(2011)

F. Korner-Nievergelt et al.

A new method to determine bird and bat fatality at wind energy turbines from carcass searches

Wildlife Biol

(2011)

J. Everaert

Wind turbines and birds in Flanders: preliminary study results and recommendations

Natuur Oriolus

(2003)

M. Morrison

Searcher bias and scavenging rates in bird/wind energy studies (NREL/SR-500-30876)

(2002)

S.G. Orloff et al.

Wind turbine effects on avian activity, habitat use, and mortality in Altamont Pass and Solano County, wind resource areas

(1992)

L.A. Holmstrom et al.

Assessing avian-wind turbine collision risk: an approach angle dependent model

Wind Eng

(2011)

K.S. Smallwood et al.

Development methods to reduce bird mortality in the Altamont pass wind resource area

(2004)

M.J. Brown et al.

Causes of mortality among wild swans in Britain

Wildfowl

(1992)

R.H.W. Langston et al.

Wind farms and birds: an analysis of the effects of wind farms on birds and guidance on environmental assessment criteria and site selection issues

(2003)

J.C. Garvin et al.

Response of raptors to a windfarm

J Appl Ecol

(2011)

L. Barrios et al.

Behavioural and environmental correlates of soaring-bird mortality at on-shore wind turbines

J Appl Ecol

(2004)

DEHLG (Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government)

Planning guidelines. DEHLG, Ireland

(2012)

C.L. Pruett et al.

Avoidance behavior by prairie grouse: implications for development of wind energy

Conserv Biol

(2009)

W.P. Kuvlesky et al.

Wind energy development and wildlife conservation: challenges and opportunities

J Wildlife Manag

(2007)

T.K. Christensen et al.

Visual and radar observations of birds in relation to collision risk at the Horns Rev offshore wind farm

(2003)

J. Kahlert et al.

Investigations of birds during construction and operation of Nysted offshore wind farm at Rodsand (Report Commissioned by Energi E2 A/S 2004)

(2003)

H.-S. Philip et al.

Bats avoid moving objects more successfully than stationary ones

Nature

(1978)

L.E. Ellison

Bats and wind energy – a literature synthesis and annotated bibliography

(2012)

J.N. Maina et al.

Correlations between structure and function in the design of the bat lung: a morphometric study

J Exp Biol

(1984)

Cited by (317)

Improvement of wind energy potential through building corner modifications in compact urban areas
2024, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics
Building corner modifications are considered useful for enhancing the aerodynamic performance of a single tall building; however, such studies targeted at urban wind energy for compact high-rise building complexes remain scarce. Therefore, a comprehensive CFD analysis of the impacts of building corner modifications on the urban wind energy potential for a compact high-rise building array is performed, including (i) the building corner shape, (ii) the chamfer length, (iii) the corner radius, (iv) the wind turbine type and orientation, and (v) the wind direction. The analysis is based on 3D steady Reynolds-averaged Naiver-Stokes simulations validated with wind-tunnel experiments. The results reveal the notable influence of corner modifications on the mean wind speed, mean wind power density and turbulence intensity. Rounded corners are the most favorable building corner shape yielding a maximum of 365% higher wind power density above the roofs, as compared to sharp corners, with a comparatively noticeable reduction in turbulence intensity. By increasing the chamfer length or corner radius, our study indicates a potential enhancement in wind power density adjacent to high-rise buildings. Our investigations suggest that horizontally-mounted vertical-axis wind turbines may achieve improved performance in wind energy harvesting both in the passages between buildings with rounded corners and above the roofs. These findings highlight the influence of architectural design on urban wind energy potential.
Ocean economic and cultural benefit perceptions as stakeholders' constraints for supporting conservation policies: A multi-national investigation
2024, Marine Policy
Given the vastness and interconnectedness of the ocean, marine conservation requires international treaties, especially after the High Seas Treaty was signed. However, most international marine conservation treaties do not have enforcement mechanisms and leave the fulfillment of obligations to the States’ responsibility. As States’ monitoring, managing, and enforcing capacity is limited, including stakeholders in policy-making and -implementing processes is crucial. Although some multi-national studies have been conducted to examine predictors of stakeholders’ support for conservation management and valuations of ecosystem services, few have focused on how their perceived most crucial economic and cultural benefits of their countries’ oceans are associated with their support level for policies focused on ocean preservation. Thus, the current study aims to fill this gap by employing the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) analytics on a dataset of 709 stakeholders from 42 countries, a part of the MaCoBioS project funded by the European Commission H2020. We found that stakeholders’ considerations of the ocean’s provisioning (or economic) and cultural ecosystem services as their countries’ most vital benefits are generally negatively associated with the policy support level. Regarding economic aspects, stakeholders considering transportation and shipping, renewable energy generation, and oil and gas provision as the most crucial benefits their countries’ oceans provide tend to give less support for policies focusing on ocean preservation. For cultural aspects, perceiving recreation and tourism, aesthetic pleasure, mental health and well-being support, and sense of identity provision as the most important benefits provided by the country’s ocean are negatively associated with the policy support level. These findings provide preliminary evidence on the stakeholders’ psychological constraints to support marine conservation-focused policies, which can be insights that might explain why international treaties about environmental and maritime issues mostly failed to produce their intended effects and warn of the risks and challenges to enacting marine protection policies in the high seas effectively. Recommendations for improving the effective management of multi-use marine space and building the eco-surplus among stakeholders are also provided to reduce the perceived competing interests among stakeholders.
A novel Artificial Location Selection Optimization for Global Maximum Power Point Tracking under Partial Shading Conditions
2024, Energy Conversion and Management
Partial Shading Condition (PSC) is a common issue when implementing the Photovoltaic (PV) system. Conventional Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms are not able to track the Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP) under PSC as the Power–Voltage (P–V) characteristic curve has multiple Local Maximum Power Points (LMPPs). In the literature, meta-heuristic algorithms have been implemented in the Global Maximum Power Point Tracking (GMPPT) applications. However, meta-heuristic algorithms often face initialization and parameter tuning issues. In this paper, a novel evolutionary-based method called Artificial Location Selection Optimization (ALSO) is proposed for GMMPT under PSC. The proposed ALSO replicates the artificial selection activity widely used in agriculture. Compared to the conventional Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA), it does not involve random numbers so that the PSC issue can be solved effectively. In addition, our proposed algorithm is able to vary its tracking speed according to the complexity of the PSC. The performance of the ALSO has been tested by simulations and experiments by exploiting 252 non-repeating PSC test cases. Both simulations and experiments demonstrate that the ALSO algorithm performs better than the PSO and GA algorithms in terms of speed, efficiency, accuracy, power convergence, and duty convergence.
Hydrogen energy storage requirements for solar and wind energy production to account for long-term variability
2024, Renewable Energy
Wind and solar energy production are plagued, in addition to short-term variability, by significant seasonal variability. The aim of this work is to show the variability of wind and solar energy production, and to compute the hydrogen energy storage needed to address this variability while supplying a stable grid. This is the very first work where the extent of the hydrogen energy storage needed to make stable a grid only supplied by wind and solar energy in Australia is computed. An annual grid demand of 570 TWh in Australia may require 327 GW of installed capacity of wind and solar, 809 TWh of non-dispatchable electricity, and 48 TWh of hydrogen energy storage. While the theoretical maximum power of the electrolysers is 267 GW, the average power is only 46 GW, permitting huge savings in electrolysers capacity adopting a high efficiency energy storage such as flow batteries in between wind and solar producers and electrolysers. The power of the hydrogen generators is 167 GW. The outcome aligns seamlessly with the recent evaluation conducted by the Royal Society regarding the energy storage requirements in the United Kingdom by 2050 to fulfil the net zero commitment in a 570 TWh annually stable grid, with hydrogen similarly serving as the primary source.
Enhancement of lithiation on a graphane monolayer through extended H vacancy pathways: An ab initio study
2024, Physica B: Condensed Matter
The increasing interest for the need of large-scale energy-storage systems have led to the development of high-performance energy-storage devices such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Two dimensional (2D) materials are promising candidates for fulfilling this requirement due to their peculiar physical properties. However, it is important to understand the role of multiple Li adatoms on the 2D materials, more especially when defects are involved. In this study, first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to study Li on the H vacancies (V $_{H}$ ) following the line and zigzag pathways on a graphane sheet. The results of Li atom on a single H vacancy (V $_{H 1}$ ) reveal an immediate enhanced interaction based on the improved binding energies, high amount of charge transfer and significantly shortened Li height, as compared to those of pristine graphane counterpart. An increase in the number of H vacancies along the line pathway from one (V $_{H 1}$ (L)) to five (V $_{H 5}$ (L)) further improves the binding energies ranging from 1.82 eV to 2.91 eV. Considering a simultaneous increase of Li atoms and H vacancies following a line pathway (V $_{H 1}$ (L) to five V $_{H 5}$ (L)), the binding energies tend to reduce in order. However, it is still higher than the minimum Li standard bulk cohesive energy of 1.63 eV. We show that there is a possibility of uniform dispersion of Li atoms with less clustering on a graphane sheet. A transition from insulator to metallic character was observed from V $_{H 1}$ (L) to V $_{H 5}$ (L), due to an induced new Li states at the vicinity of the Fermi level, suggesting an enhancement of electronic conductivity in the graphane sheet. At five Li atom V $_{H 5}$ (L) configuration along the line pathway, we obtained a relatively high storage capacity of 207.49 mAh/g with its corresponding lithiation potential of 1.48 V, comparable to those of well known two dimensional anode materials.
Unveiling resistance and opposition against low-carbon energy transitions: A comprehensive review
2024, Energy Research and Social Science
The growing energy demand has increased the necessity for low-carbon energy transition to tackle climate change. Although existing literature primarily centres on the acceptance of these changes and their technologies, the growing number of low-carbon initiatives and renewable energy projects has prompted a substantial increase in literature exploring the social, political, and cultural resistance and opposition to these shifts. This study systematically analyses current literature to scrutinise the encountered resistance in transitioning toward a low-carbon economy. It extensively investigates the factors driving resistance across micro, meso, and macro levels, specifically focusing on three technology categories: consumer technologies, renewable energy, and smart energy systems. By synthesising insights from diverse studies that explore the political, social, economic, and cultural contexts of resistance, the primary aim is to contribute to the existing knowledge on energy transition and to provide insights that support more socially sustainable and democratic pathways toward low-carbon societies. Moreover, this study presents policy recommendations to address existing and potential resistance and opposition in this transition. Highlighting the distinctive aspects of each resistance case stresses the significance of acknowledging local intricacies and nuances in comprehending and addressing this resistance.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

ReviewEnvironmental issues associated with wind energy – A review

Highlights

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Wind energy induced environmental issues

Mitigation of wind energy environmental risks

Conclusions

Acknowledgment

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Biol Conserv

Renew Energy

Renew Energy Focus

Biol Conserv

Energy Policy

Renew Energy Focus

J Environ Manag

Biol Conserv

Biol Conserv

Fish Res

Mar Policy

Mar Pollut Bull

Mar Pollut Bull

J Sound Vib

Landscape Urban Plan

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Renew Energy

Energy Policy

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Biofuels-renewable energy sources: a review

J Dispersion Sci Technol

Renewable fuels and electricity for a growing world economy: defining and achieving the potential

Energy Stud Rev

Global wind report: annual market update 2013

Wind turbine health impact study: report of independent expert panel

Environmental impacts of wind-energy projects

Environmental impact of wind energy

Environ Res Lett

Assessing the impact of wind farms on birds

Ibis

Cantabrian Capercaillie signs disappeared after a wind farm construction

Chioglossa

A new method to determine bird and bat fatality at wind energy turbines from carcass searches

Wildlife Biol

Wind turbines and birds in Flanders: preliminary study results and recommendations

Natuur Oriolus

Searcher bias and scavenging rates in bird/wind energy studies (NREL/SR-500-30876)

Wind turbine effects on avian activity, habitat use, and mortality in Altamont Pass and Solano County, wind resource areas

Assessing avian-wind turbine collision risk: an approach angle dependent model

Wind Eng

Development methods to reduce bird mortality in the Altamont pass wind resource area

Causes of mortality among wild swans in Britain

Wildfowl

Wind farms and birds: an analysis of the effects of wind farms on birds and guidance on environmental assessment criteria and site selection issues

Response of raptors to a windfarm

J Appl Ecol

Behavioural and environmental correlates of soaring-bird mortality at on-shore wind turbines

J Appl Ecol

Planning guidelines. DEHLG, Ireland

Avoidance behavior by prairie grouse: implications for development of wind energy

Conserv Biol

Wind energy development and wildlife conservation: challenges and opportunities

J Wildlife Manag

Visual and radar observations of birds in relation to collision risk at the Horns Rev offshore wind farm

Investigations of birds during construction and operation of Nysted offshore wind farm at Rodsand (Report Commissioned by Energi E2 A/S 2004)

Bats avoid moving objects more successfully than stationary ones

Nature

Bats and wind energy – a literature synthesis and annotated bibliography

Correlations between structure and function in the design of the bat lung: a morphometric study

J Exp Biol

Review
Environmental issues associated with wind energy – A review