Sustainable use of wind energy

풍력에너지의 환경친화적 이용

  • 이영희 (베를린공대 사회, 환경 정주공간 학제 연구단, 베를린 훔볼트대학 철학부, 독일 연방환경청 토양/토지 부분 자문위, 행정학 국제연구소 독일분과위)
  • Published : 2011.03.09

Abstract

Wind energy, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. However, the construction of wind farms is not universally welcomed because of their visual impact, competing land use, comprising human health impacts, building and crop damage, loss of amenities and ecological impact, impact on wildlife, danger to birds, safety hazard, aesthetics and noise. Offshore wind power, in particular, offers a huge potential to generate clean energy. However, the envisaged massive expansion of wind farms in oceans is already causing severe environmental conflicts. Wind farms cause further harm to already threatened oceans. Wind power has negligible fuel costs, but a high capital cost. The expansion of climate-friendly wind energy use both onshore and offshore can only be successful it the legal and organizational conditions undergo some clear improvements.

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