7. Landscape
Wind turbines alter the visual character of landscapes, often sparking local opposition. Again, proper consultation with communities and participatory planning are key to preserving aesthetic and cultural values.
Wind turbines alter the visual character of landscapes, often sparking local opposition. Again, proper consultation with communities and participatory planning are key to preserving aesthetic and cultural values.
Comments
Noise and shadow flicker can annoy people living near wind farms. Health effects remain highly debated, but proper planning and noise thresholds can mitigate disturbances and minimise disturbance in populated areas.
(seriously, well done if you have read this far!!)
We next look at:
9. energy system impacts
10. market and price impacts
News flash: sometimes the wind doesn’t blow! Sometimes it blows hard and wind energy must be curtailed. A lot more transmission is needed to move power to where it’s needed, requiring investment in stronger and smarter transmission systems.
System costs rise when grids lack flexibility & storage. Batteries are not ideal as they are short duration (better paired with solar). Longer duration storage such as hydrogen, or sector coupling could better bridge the gaps.
See https://academic.oup.com/book/55104
Wind's near-zero costs depress electricity prices, threatening investment and market stability. While sometimes overstated, this impacts system reliability. Regulatory tweaks like zonal pricing or flexibility incentives could help stabilise markets and sustain renewables.
11. financing and controlling intellectual property
12. supply chain disruptions
13. cyber security and hybrid threats
14. planning and permitting
(this is the home stretch, I promise...)
https://reneweconomy.com.au/big-batteries-and-evs-to-the-rescue-again-as-faults-with-new-nuclear-plant-cause-chaos-on-nordic-grids/?