Pros and Cons of Traditional Wind Turbines

In our previous posts, we’ve looked at the latest winners of the UK Dyson Award and their innovative product, O-Wind. Their modern twist on the traditional wind turbine has left us wondering which is more effective, the new, spinning turbine or the traditional static version? In this post we’ll dissect the pros and cons of wind turbines to see where and how the new O-Wind would be useful.

Pros

1. Green, renewable energy

Wind turbines don’t use any destructive chemicals or produce harmful emissions, meaning they’re sustainable and environmentally friendly, with no contaminants or micropollutants released into water sources. We have an almost unlimited supply of wind, as it’s solely reliant on the sun and the earth’s rotation, allowing us to utilise this free energy continuously.

2. Create jobs

The manufacturing of turbines and construction of wind farms create both long and short-term employment. From structural engineers to assembly workers, wind turbines create a range of jobs across various industries. It is predicted that the wind energy industry can support 600,000 jobs by 2050.

3. Low running costs

As opposed to other forms of energy generation, wind energy requires just a one-off payment and then effectively runs itself. Wind turbines are designed with simple mechanical processes. Once the initial payment for the building and setting up of the turbine is out of the way, there are very few running costs.

Cons

1. Restricted to specific locations

Traditional wind farms need to be set up in places with a steady supply of wind, which tends to be rural areas. This means those living in the city don’t get to reap the benefits of wind energy without transmission lines, which would require a much larger investment.

2. Not for everyone

Wind farms, particularly traditional turbines produce a lot of noise and can be an eyesore to those living close by. Some local residents complain that wind turbines can affect the peace of the countryside and ruin the beauty of their views. Modern turbines are attempting to counteract this with a sleek design and neutral colours.

3. Initial cost can be high

Although wind turbines run on a relatively low cost, the initial set-up fee can be quite hefty. The start-up investment for turbines can be higher than that of fossil-fuelled generators, which puts many people off using it. With the huge benefits of using renewable energy, it is important to get the cost right.

O-Wind

The winning product of the UK Dyson Award attempts to combat many of the cons associated with traditional wind turbines. With cheaper set-up costs, smaller turbines and the three-dimensional technology, the O-Wind is more accessible for everyone. Our next post looks at more features of ‘spinning’ wind turbines and the science behind the invention.