Wind is the worlds fastest growing energy source and in the UK we have about 40% of Europe's wind resource. Wind can be harnessed without causing damage to the environment and is a sustainable fuel source that doesn’t produce pollutants.  The energy used in manufacturing and erecting a wind turbine is paid back generally within the first 3 to 6 months of operation and when removed after a lifetime (normally 15 -30 years) leaves no long term scar.  

The majority of modern wind turbines have three blades, as this design has been found to have a greater aesthetic appeal. The disadvantage is that each blade will add to the overall cost and weight and can be more difficult to install. Two bladed machines are cheaper and lighter, with higher running speeds, which reduces the cost of the gearbox, and they are easier to install.

It is cheaper to save electricity than to generate it, by whatever method. The latest information on how much it costs to save electricity is available from the Energy Savings Trust. In their Energy Efficiency Standards of Performance Review, they cited the cost of energy efficiency measures as costing around 1.3 pence per kilowatt hour (per unit). The cost of wind energy is currently around 2.4 pence per unit. However, to combat climate change, the UK will need a mix of both renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures

A modern wind turbine produces electricity 70-85% of the time, but it generates different outputs dependent on wind speed. Over the course of a year, it will generate about 30% of the theoretical maximum output. This is known as its load factor. The load factor of conventional power stations is on average 50%.

Studies regularly show that most people find turbines an interesting feature of the landscape. On average 80% of the public support wind energy, less than 10% are against it, with the remainder undecided. 

The evolution of wind turbine technology over the past decade has rendered mechanical noise from turbines almost undetectable with the main sound being the aerodynamic swoosh of the blades passing the tower. There are strict guidelines on wind turbines and noise emissions to ensure the protection of residential amenity.  

Windpower is the cheapest form of renewable energy costing around 3-4 pence per kilowatt hour (per unit) and is comparable to the costs of conventional electricity. (Coal 2.5 –4.5p and new nuclear 4 –7p). Manufacturing wind turbines is also becoming cheaper and more efficient because of improved new designs and productivity, which is driving down the cost of producing wind energy.

One 1.8 MW wind turbine at a reasonable site would produce over 4.7 million units of electricity each year, enough to meet the annual needs of over 1,000 households, or to run a computer for over 1,620 years.