Why are turbines in a wind farm spaced several rotor diameters apart?

Each turbine leaves a wake of slower, turbulent air behind it. Wide spacing lets the wind recover before the next turbine, cutting energy losses and fatigue.

What are the main costs of developing an onshore wind farm?

Turbines are the largest cost, followed by foundations, access roads and the grid connection. Surveys, planning, land rent and maintenance add further costs over the farm's life.

How can wind turbines affect birds and bats?

Birds and bats can be killed by collision with moving blades. Poorly sited farms can also displace birds from feeding and breeding grounds or lie across migration routes.

Why can building a wind farm on upland peat reduce its environmental benefit?

Peat stores large amounts of carbon, and digging foundations and roads drains and disturbs it. The released carbon dioxide offsets part of the farm's emissions savings.

CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology 3930

Fossil Fuels

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Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

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Macrogeneration

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Microgeneration

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Energy From Wind

Topic overview Horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines Kinetic energy, wind power and the Betz limit Power curves, rated output and energy losses Swept area, blade length and turbine mass Air density, hub height and turbine siting Power control, yawing and survival speed Choosing a location for a commercial wind farm

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Energy Storage

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Emerging Technologies

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Energy From Wind

Choosing a location for a commercial wind farm

3 things to know
AS 1

Overview

Wind resource, grid connection and turbine spacing, development costs, birds and bats, upland peat, shadow flicker and noise, community acceptance and benefit funds, radar, environmental impact assessment, offshore sites and repowering.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of siting a wind farm on an exposed upland in Northern Ireland.

Key term

What do developers consider when choosing the location for a commercial wind farm?

Key term

Why is a nearby grid connection important to a wind farm's viability?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What do developers consider when choosing the location for a commercial wind farm?
Model answer
Developers weigh expected energy output, costs, environmental impacts and social acceptance. A good site has strong winds, a nearby grid connection and few sensitive neighbours.
2
Why is a nearby grid connection important to a wind farm's viability?
Model answer
New overhead lines or underground cables to a distant substation are expensive. A weak local grid may also limit how much power the farm can export.
3
Why are turbines in a wind farm spaced several rotor diameters apart?
Model answer
Each turbine leaves a wake of slower, turbulent air behind it. Wide spacing lets the wind recover before the next turbine, cutting energy losses and fatigue.
4
What are the main costs of developing an onshore wind farm?
Model answer
Turbines are the largest cost, followed by foundations, access roads and the grid connection. Surveys, planning, land rent and maintenance add further costs over the farm's life.
5
How can wind turbines affect birds and bats?
Model answer
Birds and bats can be killed by collision with moving blades. Poorly sited farms can also displace birds from feeding and breeding grounds or lie across migration routes.
6
Why can building a wind farm on upland peat reduce its environmental benefit?
Model answer
Peat stores large amounts of carbon, and digging foundations and roads drains and disturbs it. The released carbon dioxide offsets part of the farm's emissions savings.

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Fossil Fuels

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

Macrogeneration

Microgeneration

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