A SPOKESMAN for the British Wind Association claimed that wind power was much misunderstood – often wilfully.
Nick Medic, from the trade body association, said that the UK had the most efficient wind turbines in Europe, producing power levels that had not deviated by more than 1% for the past nine years.
He said: “Plant load factors (the capacity and efficiency of electricity generation) are higher for coal stations than they are for wind turbines, but taking into account the price of coal, CO2 emissions, environmental impact, and the fact that some estimates of world coal reserves see them running out in 2070, I would prefer to see investment in wind over investment in coal.
“How we get our energy is a complex issue and often something that on the face of it makes sense, needs to be looked at carefully in the long run.
“For instance gas - it might be cheaper to build gas turbines than the equivalent wind turbine capacity, but where will the gas come from, how much will it cost, and will we as nation be at the mercy of foreign gas suppliers?
“That’s why when wind farm opponents go on about efficiency, I can’t help feeling they are confusing issues.
“Given that wind is free and CO2 neutral, and that you don’t need to dig, drill or clean after it, and that it gives a steady output, already powering over 1m UK homes, it just could be the most efficient generating technology.”
A spokesman for E.On said it was Government policy to increase the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources.
He said that they were using a range of techniques – including offshore wind farms, tidal stream, wave and bio-mass.
He said: “The fact that there’s lots of wind farms in the area is because it’s quite windy there.
“We always try to site the farm sensibly and look for ways of mitigating the effects,” he added.
