Disadvantages of Wind Power

Wind power disadvantages

Many wind turbines are needed to replace nuclear power, coal power, natural gas and more

The disadvantage of wind power compared to nuclear power, coal power and natural gas plants etc. is that 500 – 1500 wind turbines are needed to replace one such power plant. This means that wind turbines are visible in more places in the landscape if the wind power should account for a significant proportion of the electricity supply compared to the other power plants of which there is no need for as many.

Wind power requires regulatory power

Wind power cannot stand on its own because it does not always blow. Although it always blows at a higher altitude, it is often too little for wind power to provide enough to meet a country’s power needs. Wind power is also not suitable to regulate to a greater extent. It blows when it blows and that is when it should be used and fully used. This is because the fuel is free, but the capital costs are constant.

Therefore, there must be about 80% percent of the installed wind power capacity in other more easily regulated and inexpensive power plants such as hydropower or in any form of energy storage. This is to cope with electricity production when it is not blowing and at the same time keep costs down when it is blowing and the regulating power must stand still.

In countries where there is not much wind, there is a bit of difficulty as the wind power becomes more expensive in such countries.

Wind turbines sound and are visible

Wind turbines sound a bit, the distance to residential buildings must be long enough for it not to be a significant disturbance for the residents. Some think that wind turbines are beautiful, others think they are annoyingly ugly. It is true that other power plants also apply, but there are many more wind power plants for the same power than most other types of energy and therefore they disturb more people.