Wind farms are the UK’s most promising source of renewable energy. Our weather and geography make them a successful choice for energy production, and there are now around 300 wind farms in and around the UK. Some people oppose the farms, claiming that the noise is damaging to local wildlife and the construction has a negative impact on the landscape.

However peer-reviewed research shows that the impact on the surrounding area is minimal, and innovations and technological developments are constantly improving the process. For example firms have looked for ways to reduce the weight of the turbines, as this reduces production costs and the costs and impact of transporting the materials to the farm site. Lightweight carbon fibre is a great example of this. Now, the energy used in producing the materials and transporting them is cancelled out by the energy produced by the wind farm in its first few months.

However any process which involves building and manufacturing has a wider economic value. In an age in which our manufacturing sector is a fraction of what it once was, there are now several companies who manufacture wind turbines, creating jobs. This value extends to those involved in logistics, and the actual construction. Turbines have specific construction needs due to their height, such as cranes, hoists and lifting slings , and companies who provide these can benefit from the building of wind farms.

The building of a wind farm might create some disruption but the environmental impact is low in comparison to other construction projects and any economic benefits are to be welcomed, not to mention the fact that it provides a source of renewable energy for years to come.