Executive Summary

General Europe

This useful paper explains how the cost of offshore wind has increased in the United Kingdom and how government accounting of the costs have failed to reveal this fact. The paper examines how the actual costs of both onshore and offshore wind generation have not fallen significantly. In fact, the authors report that the operating costs of new capacity have increased significantly for both onshore and offshore wind farms while the operating costs for existing wind farms have increased more rapidly as the turbines aged. The full paper can be accessed by clicking on the document links on this page.

General UK

This study examines changes in peat bogs resulting from peat extraction and grazing. The study also found that a far more significant impact to these land forms in the long term, with far greater and more rapid change has occurred as a result of windfarm construction. The authors write that "Although the installation of individual turbines over blanket bog often results in the extraction of peat in isolated locations, the associated infrastructure of tracks and electrical cable conduits has wider impact not only on the hydrology, but also on peatland geomorphology." According to the report "Windfarm installations have already significantly altered the functioning of some of these ecosystems, and without urgent protection some of the blanket bogs identified here may soon be lost. Action of a most urgent nature is needed from the governments of Cantabria and Castilla y León in order to retain what remains and restore these systems to important natural carbon sinks." The full report can be accessed by selecting the document links on this page.

Impact on Landscape Pollution Europe UK

This study examines changes in peat bogs resulting from peat extraction and grazing. The study also found that a far more significant impact to these land forms in the long term, with far greater and more rapid change has occurred as a result of windfarm construction. The authors write that "Although the installation of individual turbines over blanket bog often results in the extraction of peat in isolated locations, the associated infrastructure of tracks and electrical cable conduits has wider impact not only on the hydrology, but also on peatland geomorphology." According to the report "Windfarm installations have already significantly altered the functioning of some of these ecosystems, and without urgent protection some of the blanket bogs identified here may soon be lost. Action of a most urgent nature is needed from the governments of Cantabria and Castilla y León in order to retain what remains and restore these systems to important natural carbon sinks." The full report can be accessed by selecting the document links on this page.

Impact on Landscape Pollution UK Europe

ABSTRACT

Impact on People Noise Europe

The attached appeal upholds the prior judgement to revoke the planning permission for a single community scale 500kw wind turbine at Severndale Farm, Tidenham, Gloucestershire. Resilient Energy's granted planning permission was heavily influenced by their promise to provide an annual donation to a local community fund. The court determined that this donation did not qualify as material consideration, due to its intended purposes unrelated to the developer's land use, and, therefore, was unlawfully taken into account by the Forest of Dean District Council in making their decision. 

Zoning/Planning UK

Environmental and scientific groups in Greece submitted this letter to the Prime Minister of Greece and the Ministry of Environment and Energy seeking the cancellation of proposed wind energy development on 14 protected islets in the South Aegean. The letter translated into English is provided below. The original letter in Greek can be accessed at the document links on this page.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Birds Europe

In Finney v Welsh, the appeal court supported the decision to refuse an increase in wind turbine height after finding that a 10-meter increase in turbine height would be a material change that would be inconsistent with the description of the permitted development and thus would result in a different development. A section of the decision is provided below. The full decision can be accessed by selection the document links on this page.

Legal UK

The attached letter written by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds raises their concerns over Hornsea Project Three, an offshore wind project located in the North Sea. New information has arisen indicating that the project will adversely effect the breeding grounds of the gannet, kittiwake, and black-backed gull populations and negatively impact the integrity of the Flamborough and Filey Coast SPA. The Royal Society urges the Secretary of State to extend the deadline for the project's development order to consider this new information and recommends that alternative energy solutions be explored.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Birds Impact on Landscape Offshore Wind Europe UK

The attached letter written by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds raises their concerns over Hornsea Project Three, an offshore wind project located in the North Sea. New information has arisen indicating that the project will adversely effect the breeding grounds of the gannet, kittiwake, and black-backed gull populations and negatively impact the integrity of the Flamborough and Filey Coast SPA. The Royal Society urges the Secretary of State to extend the deadline for the project's development order to consider this new information and recommends that alternative energy solutions be explored.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Birds Impact on Landscape Offshore Wind UK Europe

This paper examines the risks and liabilities of decommissioning offshore wind energy facillties and the lack of regulatory oversight needed to ensure proper planning for taking the turbines down and restoring the site to its orginal state.

Offshore Wind Europe

BACKGROUND: Noise from wind turbines (WTs) is associated with annoyance and, potentially, sleep disturbances.

Impact on People Noise Denmark

The pilot study carried out in Satakunta and Northern Ostrobothnia in Finland shows that the damage caused by infrasound from wind power plants will only decrease significantly more than 15 kilometers away from wind turbines. The study was carried out by the Finnish Association for Environmental Health (SYTe) in the spring 2016. A portion of the study's results is provided below. The full report (in English) can be found at the document links on this page.

Impact on People Noise Europe

This paper examines the impact of wind turbines on residential property values. The abstract of the paper is provided below. The full paper can be accessed at the document link(s) on this page.

Property Values Germany

Abstract

Property Values Germany

The Renewable Energy Foundation published this research paper by Dr Gordon Hughes, Professor of Economics at the University of Edinburgh, on the performance over time of wind farms in the United Kingdom and Denmark.  The paper can be downloaded by clicking on the link(s) on this page.  The UK and Danish data used in the analysis is also available below. The following summarises the results of the research.

Technology Denmark UK

The Renewable Energy Foundation published this research paper by Dr Gordon Hughes, Professor of Economics at the University of Edinburgh, on the performance over time of wind farms in the United Kingdom and Denmark.  The paper can be downloaded by clicking on the link(s) on this page.  The UK and Danish data used in the analysis is also available below. The following summarises the results of the research.

Technology Denmark UK

Article impact statement: Wind farm effects on birds in upland areas are guild specific and mediated by changes in land use associated with wind farm construction.

Impact on Birds Ireland

This paper is one of the first to report on the mortality of insects due to wind turbines. The summary of the paper is provided below. The full paper can be accessed at the document links on this page.

Impact on Wildlife Germany

This paper examines the issues involved in deciding whether an operating wind project in Europe is likely to be repowered as the facility approaches its end of life. The document can be downloaded from this page. The paper's abstract and concluding paragraphs are excerpted and provided below.

General Europe