This analysis examines the constraints of deploying wind energy and the upper limits of how much wind can be installed. The executive summary is provided below. The full report can be accessed by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.

The Scottish Conservatives released this policy statement recommending that the number of planned onshore wind farms be substantially reduced in Scotland and their subsidy cut by fifty per cent to limit household bills. A subset of the report is provided below. Select the links at the bottom of this page to access the full report.

This important document critiques the ETSU-R-97 environmental assessment of noise from wind turbines in the United Kingdom. The ETSU-R-97 was written by a Noise Working Group (NWG) set up in 1995 by the Department of Trade and Industry through ETSU (the Energy Technology Support Unit). The noise policy is still in effect today and followed by wind developers outside of the United Kingdom.

This brief filed by sleep expert, Dr. Christopher Hanning, reviews the potential consequences of wind turbine noise and, in particular, its effect on sleep and health and to make recommendations with regard to minimum setback distances. Dr. Hanning considers whether, in the absence of new national guidance should there be minimum or recommended separation distances between commercial scale wind developments and residential properties and other sensitive developments?”

This report prepared by the Forest Commission Scotland (FCS) facilitates wind energy development on national forest land in the country. The report, obtained through a freedom of information act, shows how FCS divided the public land it manages into 5 'lots' to be prospected by specific wind energy developers. For example, ScottishPower Renewables were awarded Lot 1 and the right to develop schemes of less than 5MW in Lots 1-5. The remaining 4 lots are allocated to four other developers all of whom are currently working through the exclusivity period to identify suitable sites for wind turbines.

The engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald was commissioned by Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in the UK to update the electricity generation costs in 2009. In its report released June 2010, the firm calculated the “levelised generation costs” for several technologies including wind power. In this report, economist Ruth Lea, examines these Government-commissioned estimates of costs to calculate the most cost-effective technologies.

One of the UK's leading energy and environment economists warns that the government's promise that green energy policies will create tens of thousands of jobs and stimulate competitive industries is an illusion. In his report The Myth of Green Jobs, published today by the Global Warming Policy Foundation, Professor Gordon Hughes (University of Edinburgh) dispels this assumption. The summary of findings is posted below. The full report can be downloaded by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.

Stuart Young Consulting, with support from the John Muir Trust, has released a report studying the ability of wind power to make a significant contribution to the UK's energy supply. It concludes that the average power output of wind turbines across Scotland is well below the rates often claimed by industry and government. The executive summary of the report is provided below. The full report can be accessed by clicking on the link(s) at the bottom of this page.

House of Lords: A bill to make provision for a minimum distance between wind turbines and residential premises according to the size of the wind turbine; and for connected purposes.