There has been another spate of articles about wind being costly and ineffective. How much do subsidies for wind cost? Well, according to the London School of Economics, about £6 per year on the average household bill1. This is slightly lower than the estimate of £7.74 given by the RenewableUK2. These figures also ignore the fact that an increase in renewables cuts the demand for gas and therefore lowers prices.
When you look at proper studies, a lot of the other arguments against wind also evaporate. The claim that it is ineffective in cutting CO2 emissions has been dismissed not just by theoretical analysis, but also by empirical data3. “What happens when the wind doesn’t blow” is not a problem according to the UK Energy Research Council4. The deadly effects of ‘wind farm syndrome’ has recently been discussed in the New Scientist5.
This is why new wind capacity is far outpacing nuclear capacity even in supposedly ‘pro-nuclear’ China6 and India7.
It is true that the UK imports some French nuclear generated electricity, however, that is for purely economic reasons and nothing to do will shortfall of supply as the data clearly shows8.
Meeting our energy needs and tackling climate change is not just about the ‘wind or nuclear’ argument, and there are many things that need to be looked at. However, to those critics of wind who bring up spurious arguments with no proper studies to back up the arguments, could you please cut the hogwash.
1 The Case For and Against Wind Power In The UK, London School of Economics, 2012
2 New Ofgem figures show tiny investment in wind energy reaps huge returns for UK, Press Release, RenewableUK, 15 March 2012
3 Beyond the Bluster, Institute for Public Policy Research, 2012
4 The Costs and Impacts of Intermittency: UK Energy Research Centre, 2006
5 The sickening truth about wind farm syndrom, New Scientist, 08 October 2012
6 Nuclear / Wind Power In China
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