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Wind Power
This is a technology which is still being developed around the world. New millennia technology has led to huge advancements in terms of the size of the wind turbines which are now being produced, with some reaching as high as two hundred meters with blades sixty meters in length.
In effect wind turbines are modern day windmills with generators housed at the centre of the blades. The wind drives the turbines round and the resulting motion generates electricity which is then fed through lines to the grid. In most cases wind turbines appear in groups, called wind farms. The location of these can vary greatly. They are often placed on top of hills where the wind is at its strongest and in more recent times the development of off shore wind farms have grown in popularity. These utilise the strong sea breezes before they are broken up by the undulating land. They are particularly popular in some European countries and in Denmark wind power produces around 3,000 Megawatts, which is around twenty percent of the countries electricity requirements.
However, community acceptance of wind farms is still an area of concern. Although many European countries seem to accept them as a viable source of power many people within the UK view them as an isor on the landscape. Even those wind farms which are to be based off shore have come under some scrutiny for creating an undesired view over some areas of natural beauty. This method of power generation is also dependant on one key factor, wind. The wind stream needs to be fairly consistent in order for wind turbines to operate effectively and generate reasonable levels of power. In many areas of the UK there is a consistent supply of wind, particularly on coastal regions where we encounter strong atlantic or north sea winds. Once you move inland the wind level drop as it is broken down by the undulating land meaning. As such wind farms are likely to be less effective once moved inland, unless they are placed on hill tops. With many of the prime inland areas in the UK being national parks it is not viable to install wind farms in these locations.