Environmental aspects of large-scale wind-power systems in the UK

Environmental issues relating to the introduction of large, MW-scale wind turbines at land-based sites in the UK are discussed. Areas of interest include noise, television interference, hazards to bird life and visual effects. A number of areas of uncertainty are identified, but enought is known from experience elsewhere in the world to enable the first UK machines to be introduced in a safe and environementally acceptable manner. Research currently under way will serve to establish siting criteria more clearly, and could significantly increase the potential wind-energy resource. Certain studies of the comparative risk of energy systems are shown to be overpessimistic for UK wind turbines.