Wind Power in Denmark

Advantages and Disadvantages to Windpower

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  • Created by: Niamh
  • Created on: 30-04-13 16:52

Wind Power in Denmark

Advantages

  • Generating wind energy contributes no greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Provides currently 20% of Danish electricity consumption. Danish government plans to increase this to cover more than 50% of electricity consumption in 2025 of which will come from 10 off shore wind farms.
  • Energy companies, in co-operation with 'Project Better Place' aim to establish an electric car-charging grid in Denmark and this is advantageous as one 2-MW wind turbine provides enough electricity to run 3000 electric cars and owners will generally charge their cars at night when there is excess wind power production.

Disadvantages

  • There is a cost to producing the turbines. While Horns Rev can generate enough electricity for 150,000 private homes or nearly 2% of Denmark's total electricity consumption, but the Horns Rev wind farm cost £245 million to build.
  • The curvature of the earth means that the turbines would be impossible to see from a distance of 45km, but at about 100m high and 14km from land, they will be visible. The shore line close to Horns Rev is made up of popular sandy beaches with tourists and locals and the turbines could reduce earnings from tourism if they find them unsightly to look at. But for some tourists this could be an attraction.

Evaluation

Denmark produces more of its electricity (20%) from wind power than any other country and by 2025 it hopes to be at over 50%. The largest wind farm in the world is Horns Rev in Denmark which is made 14km from the Danish mainland in water. 

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