Over the past few years, the popularity of wind energy in the world is breaking all records.
It would seem that wind is an absolute freedom from non-renewable and expensive energy sources like oil and gas. It is an undeniable prospect. But, in addition to a number of advantages, such energy has several disadvantages, which slow down the mass spread of this type of alternative energy.

Advantages of wind energy

No environmental pollution

Using wind energy practically reduces to zero emissions into the environment. Traditional energy sources do not provide such opportunities. Wind energy has no hidden dangers, such as nuclear fuel, and does not contribute to global warming.

Moreover, if we use wind energy instead of the energy generated by thermal power plants, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which will have a positive effect on the Earth’s ozone layer.

It’s energy that’s with us forever

Wind energy is completely renewable. There is no danger that wind will one day disappear from the planet. Conventional sources, on the other hand, are limited and will eventually run out. As there are fewer and fewer fossils in the bowels of the earth to generate energy every year, we are forced to look for alternatives.

Wind is available all over the world

Oil is concentrated in certain areas and this leads to geopolitical tensions. It is now important for the whole world to control and buy oil profitably. The wind, on the other hand, is a source that is available in every country of the world. Somewhere the wind is weaker, somewhere stronger, but it is almost everywhere. So almost anyone can “connect to it”.

Allows rational use of land resources

The inhabitants of traditionally poor stony and desert corners of our planet can become richer thanks to the wind by selling the excess energy – the wind is stronger there.

Another advantage is that land unsuitable for agriculture and housing construction can now be used for wind farms. That’s how we use every bit of the planet sustainably.

Wind power costs pennies and reduces dependence on conventional energy sources

Like other alternative energy sources, wind farms reduce the dependence of companies and individuals on the monopoly of oil and gas companies, because they create competition, from which the end users benefit.

And the efficiency of wind turbines has also increased in recent years, so power generation has improved significantly.

The disadvantages of wind energy are

High initial cost stops many potential buyers of wind farms
The cost of wind turbines in Ukraine today is on average 100 thousand UAH. And this is without special equipment such as battery, gearbox and the power station itself. This is the main obstacle for all wishing on the way to the future independent of oil and gas.
Wind-powered power stations make noise
Wind turbines create noise comparable to that of a car traveling at 70 km/h, which makes people uncomfortable and scares away animals. So you can not put them too close to the house, and to put them farther away, you need large plots of land.
Some people call them “aesthetic monsters”.
Many people complain that wind turbines look terrible and spoil absolutely any landscape. After all, they are usually placed somewhere open to the wind, and instead of beauty we have to look at the blades of these giants. But some people even like their urbanistic look.
They are also a threat to birds.
Rotating wind turbine blades pose a potential hazard to some animal species. Statistically, the blades of each installed turbine cause at least four bird deaths a year.
Although birds are no more likely to be hit by the blades than an electric shock from a high-voltage line.
And they produce too little electricity.
Right now, renewable energy accounts for about 7% of our country’s total energy mix, including large hydropower.
Wind energy is not a constant. With a conventional power plant, you can maintain a constant power output, but the amount of wind energy depends on weather conditions. This means that you can not rely completely on the wind – you also need to have backup sources of energy.

Despite the obvious downsides, wind power is attracting more and more countries each year. Last year in Denmark 42% of total electricity was produced with the help of wind generators. Ukraine is still lagging behind, but this is temporary.