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Facts Wind energy is one of the most promising energy technologies for today, for the 21st century, and be- yond. Here are some short answers to frequently asked questions about wind energy: WIND ENERGY IS CLEAN Wind turbines emit no pollutants. A modern 600 kW wind turbine in an average location will annually displace 1,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide from other electricity sources, i.e. usually coal fired power stations. The energy produced by a wind turbine throughout its 20 year life- time (in an average location) is eighty times larger than the amount of energy used to build, maintain, operate, dismantle, and scrapping it again. In other words, on average it takes only two to three months for a wind turbine to recover all the energy required to build and operate it. WIND ENERGY IS ABUNDANT The energy in the wind is a truly sustainable resource. Wind will not run out. Already, wind energy is covering 7 per cent of Danish electricity consumption, a figure which will increase to at least 10 per cent by WHY WIND ENERGY? A U T U M N • 1 9 9 7 2005. The wind resources above the shallow waters in the seas around Europe could theoretically provide all of Europe’s electricity supplies several times over. WIND ENERGY MAKES A DIFFERENCE Wind Turbines have grown dra- matically in size and power output. A typical Danish wind turbine of 1980 vintage had a 26 kW generator and a rotor diameter of 10.5 metres. A modern wind turbine has a rotor diameter of 43 metres and a 600 kW generator. It will produce between 1 and 2 million kilowatt hours in a year. This is equivalent to the an- nual electricity consumption of 300 to 500 European households. The latest generation of wind turbines has a 1,000-1,500 kW generator and a 50-64 metre rotor diameter. Europe’s largest wind park in Carno, Wales produces the equivalent of the electricity consumption of 20,000 homes. In Europe more than 3,000 megawatts of wind power is on- line as of 1997, covering the average domestic electricity consumption of five million people. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WIND ENERGY: Can a wind turbine ever recover the energy spent manufacturing it? Are land resources large enough to provide space for wind turbines? Can wind energy ever be more than a marginal source of electricity? Are wind turbines just old windmills converted to a modern design? Is wind energy cheap or expensive? What are the most economic applications? Can wind turbines be used economically in inland areas, or located on the sea? Is wind energy safe? Is it reliable? Can wind turbines fit into the landscape? What are the siting problems? Are wind turbines noisy? Does wind energy affect birds and wildlife? How can varying output from wind energy be used in the electrical grid? Will wind energy work on a small scale? Can wind energy be used in developing countries? Does wind energy create jobs? What is its popularity in countries which have many wind turbines? What is the wind energy market like? Why are Danish wind turbines well known around the world? b VINDMØLLEINDUSTRIEN Vester Voldgade 106 DK 1552 Copenhagen V Tel +45 3373 0330 Fax +45 3373 0333 E-mail: