1. What are the distance of the turbine from the roads?
No. | Road type | In developed areas | Outside developed areas |
1 | Motorway | 30 m | 50 m |
2 | Express road | 20 m | 20 m |
3 | Public road: a) National, b) Provincial, district, c) Communal |
10 m 8 m 6 m |
25 m 20 m 15 |
2. Are wind turbines noisy?
Operation of wind turbines set in the distance of several hundred meters from households and buildings is not audible at all, due to the fact that the sound emitted by turning blades is absorbed by the surroundings (rustle in trees and plants, the so called “surroundings noise”). Acquiring permission for realization of an investment requires conduct of a detailed research in the extent of noise emission). Every project to be realized has to fulfill standards in the extent of admissible noise emission levels. It can be assumed on average that in the distance of 350m from an operating wind turbine, we hear a sound with a volume of 40dB.
Comparison of noise emission generated by various appliances in dB | |
| Traffic in the cities | 80 |
| Air-conditioning | 60 |
| A noisy restaurant | 70 |
| A crying child | 115 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 70 |
| Washing machine | 78 |
Scientific research carried out throughout the world shows that influence of wind turbines on birds depends on type of appliances that are used, their height, number, arrangement, but in the biggest extent it depends on choice of location for the investment.
Wind parks are an obstacle at the passage routes of birds, however, as objects of significant height, additionally in movement, they are visible for birds that in most cases easily omit them (adapt the passage course or its ceiling).
Bird collisions with wind turbines happen in situations when wind parks ale located at the main passage routes of birds or in a place where important feeding places can be found. A certain danger can also be met during night passages and bad visibility conditions.
However, it has to be kept in mind that most birds migrations take place at heights much above 150m that is definitely above operating wind turbines. It has to be also remembered that influence of wind energy on bird mortality in comparison to other forms of human activity is quite small.
| Reasons for bird mortality in 10000 cases | |
| Wind turbines | <1 |
| Telecommunication towers | 250 |
| Pesticides | 700 |
| Vehicles | 700 |
| High voltage lines | 880 |
| Other forms of human activity | 1000 |
| Cats | 1000 |
| Buildings | 5500 |
| Bird mortality in the USA – collective results | |
| Vehicles | 60 -80 mln |
| Buildings//windows | 98 - 980 mln |
| Power lines | do 174 mln |
| Telecommunication towers | 4 - 50 mln |
| Wind turbines | 10 - 40 tys. |
Process of establishing wind parks location in Poland requires preparation of an investment influence prognosis on the environment (for the needs of local spatial development plan) and an influence report for the needs of acquiring environmental decision (decision on environmental conditions) indispensable for acquiring building permission.
4. Do wind turbines influence the landscape?
Evaluation of designed projects on the landscape is, however, much more complicated than simply saying that they are visible. Influence on change of the hitherto character of the surroundings is also considered, which mainly is a matter of subjective perception, because depending on personal likes and dislikes and views of the evaluating person. Many people consider wind turbines to be modern, environment friendly installations, with a simple but reined shape.
While evaluating influence of wind turbines on the landscape, one should remember that alternative for renewable energy is the conventional one that influences the landscape in a incomparable bigger way.
5. Why does use of wind turbines prevent global warming?
Production of energy from wind turbines is a clean, the so called “zero-emission” energy generation source. It means that when wind turbines produce energy, greenhouse gases are not emitted to the atmosphere which are generated when combusting fossil fuels in conventional sources of generation (heat and power plants).
In the polish power system production of 1 MWh of energy based on hard coal results in emission of 0,9tCO2, while based on lignite 1,05tCO2. Replacing conventional sources with renewable energy sources allows to avoid large amounts of carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere.
6. Does building wind turbines influences tourism?
Experiences of communes where in Poland wind farms where built (Wolin, Darłowo), prove that wind farms influence tourism in a positive way. Turbines are seen as tourist attractions and with time they become local symbols.
Investments of wind parks construction usually positively influence development of the region, contributing to improvement of infrastructure, and also promotion of a commune as environmentally friendly. Resources gained from taxes can be distributed for i.a. development of tourism, educational projects or other ecological projects that would attract tourists to come and relax in the commune.
In many European countries where turbines are set, centers of ecological education are created where children and the young can come.
7. Where are wind parks in Poland?
The hitherto realized in Poland projects are located mainly at the territory of zachodniopomorskie and pomorskie voivodships. Among investments one can distinguish 6 large wind parks:
| Location | Voivodship | Capacity |
| Barzowice | zachodniopomorskie | 5,1 MW |
| Cisowo | zachodniopomorskie | 18 MW |
| Zagórze | zachodniopomorskie | 30 MW |
| Gniewino | pomorskie | 8,4 MW |
| Tymień | zachodniopomorskie | 50 MW |
| Puck | pomorskie | 22 MW |
| Kisielice | warmińsko-mazurskie | 40,5 MW |
Wind energy in Poland is still in its early phase. At country’s territory there are about 142 turbines set with a total capacity of 216,5MW. Average capacity of a set turbine amounts to about 1,52MW. Capacity installed in wind energy per capita is 0,0037 kW, and per km2 of land area 0,45 kW. Wind energy density in Poland is one of the lowest in Europe.
In 2006 total energy production in renewable energy sources in Poland amounted to 4191,5 GWh, (including 245,5 GWh of energy produced by wind parks), which means that share of energy production from wind in production of energy in renewable energy sources in general amounted to 5,8%. Share of wind generation in the national use of energy in 2006 amounted to only 0,2% (245,5GWh/ 149TWh).
Meanwhile, at the territory of Europe there are wind turbines set with a total capacity of over 48500 MW, in the world over 74000 MW. Only in 2006, at the territory of the European Union countries there were in total wind turbines with capacity of 7588 MW set, which means a 23% increase of installed capacity in comparison to the previous year.
Germany is still leader of the sector in the extent of market size, where the total installed capacity exceeds 20600 MW, the second place in the extent of installed capacity belongs to Spain - over 11600 MW. Moreover, in six EU countries the total installed capacity exceeds 1GW – in Denmark (3136 MW), Italy (2123 MW), Great Britain (1963 MW), Portugal (1716 MW), France(1567 MW) and Holland (1560 MW).
Up till now, in Poland no offshore project i.e. realized out at sea, have yet been built, whereas in countries like Great Britain, Denmark or Holland, investments at sea are the main direction of the sector development.
9. What are the perspectives of wind energy development in Poland?
The necessity of increasing the use of renewable energy results from international obligations of Poland. Membership in the European Union and provisions of the Access Treaty and union directives including the 2001/77/EC Directive (Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market) impose on Poland the obligation to reach 7,5% share of renewable energy in the gross national energy consumption in 2010. Though the target is a declarative one, the European Commission has the right to verify realization of the target and can punish member countries for not adapting undertaken actions to declared indicators (according to Article 3.1 Directive 2001/77/EC).
Government plans for 2010 concern installing 2000MW in wind energy and 2,3% share of wind generation in the national energy consumption. It means that in 2007-2010 increase of capacity that is needed amounts to at least 1800 MW, at the same time connecting about 450 MW a year.
10. How big a wind turbine is?
A contemporary wind turbine used at land comprises of a tower from 78 to 105 m high and three blades 40-45 m long. Thus a turbine with a blade in the state of erection is about 150 m high. For comparison – height of Palace of Culture and Science without the spire amounts to 167 m (with the spire 230 m).
11. What is a wind turbine built from?
Constructors’ ideas gave birth to numerous wind turbine models. Ultimately, the most popular one is a turbine with three blades, set on a pipe tower. Basic elements of a turbine are a tower, gondola (heart of a turbine) and a blade.
The most popular tower construction is a pipe made of steel, assembled from a few segments. Inside there is an electric installation transferring the produced energy and tele-technical installation enabling remote steering of the appliance’s operation. The system of remote control assures monitoring in the real time of the appliance parameters and communication with masts and electrical under-station from the switchboard or remotely via e-mail or sms.
The most often met blade comprises of three, revolving around their own axis paddles. The heart of a wind turbine is a gondola, inside of which there is a mechanism responsible for production of energy and operation of the whole appliance. A rotary shaft at the end of which a blade is, is coupled with a gear, to which at the other side a generator is attached. In a gondola, automatics is also placed which task is to care for security of the turbines’ operation.
12. How is energy produced from wind?
A special construction of paddles causes the air mass flowing through the blade’s area to move the blade into a rotary movement. The number of blade’s rotations depends on wind speed and size of a turbine. In case of biggest turbines, we deal with a number of rotations at the level of 9 -20 rotations per minute. Shaft of a blade is coupled with a gear that multiplies the number of rotations. On the other side of the gear also with help of the shaft, a generator is coupled that generates energy. Energy produced by the generator after being transformed by automatic systems which aim is to adjust quality of energy to requirements of the National Power System, is delivered to distribution systems.
13. How strong should be the wind for wind turbines to generate energy?
The required wind strength depends on type of a particular appliance, thus type of a wind turbine. In case of small wind turbines, even speeds close to zero, cause a blade to rotate. However, in case of big industrial turbines, with capacity of 2 MW, these requirements grow which is a result of a simple dependence. So as to move a blade which weighs 20 tones, a bigger energy is needed. The most often mentioned border speed, over which blades of turbines start to rotate, is 3-4 m/s. From this speed to a speed of 25 m/s a wind turbine generates energy. In case of a speed over 25 m/s (which is equivalent to a speed of 90 km/h), a turbine works in a safe state, when it does not generate energy.
14. What is the speed of a rotating wind turbine blade?
In case of wind turbines with big capacity, the blade rotates with speed of 9 - 20 rotations per minute. For instance, with wind speed of 6 m/s, average air density 1,225 kg/m3, through a blade with a diameter of 80 meters, during 1 second, the air with a mass of nearly 37 tones flows. For the same blade with a maximum rotary speed, the end of a blade moves with the speed of 300 km/h.
15. How much space is needed to set up a wind turbine?
Wind turbine takes space of about 20 m2. It results from the fact that a wind turbine is placed 1 meter below earth’s surface. Diameter of the foundation reaches 25 meters. Such technology of setting a wind turbine up results from two assumptions i.e. better stability of a wind turbine and minimizing influence on the hitherto exploitation of lands at which it was set up. Thanks to such technology, wind turbines cooperate well with cultivation of arable crops and that is why at arable lands they are in most cases located.
16. What happens when the wind stops to blow?
Wind turbines are fully automated appliances. As a result they constantly measure wind speed and direction so as to exploit best the existing in particular moment wind conditions. In situations when the wind stops to blow, wind turbine comes into watch state when it does not produce energy but monitors the existing in a particular moment wind conditions. In the moment when wind strength increases to the minimum required for start up of a turbine operation, the turbine restarts operation and begins to produce energy.
17. How much energy can be produced by one wind turbine?
The amount of energy that can produced by a wind turbine depends on type and capacity of the used turbine and wind conditions at the area of location.
Poland is a country with various climatic conditions. It results in different wind conditions in particular parts of the country which influence energy production from wind turbines. It is assumed that at the area of Poland feasible and at the same time attainable, operation effectiveness, reaches 25% to 40%. For instance, a turbine with capacity of 2MW will produce about 4,4 GWh/year for 25% effectiveness and 7 GWh/year for 40% operation effectiveness.
18. Does development of wind energy contributes to creation of new workplaces?
Development of wind energy contributes to creation of workplaces in many sectors, in particular in companies that deal with:
- production of wind turbines, subassemblies and elements (towers’ constructions, gondolas and rotor hubs, generators, transformers, regulation systems, gears, shafts, clutches, brakes, bearings, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, paddles (blades), automatic and steering systems),
- developing of projects and investing in wind energy,
- providing services for the sector i.e. designing companies (construction, geodesy, energy, cartographic, geologic); preparing expert’s reports (environmental and energy); construction companies dealing with under-performance of energy works; transport; delivery; companies producing telecommunication and IT systems and also dealing with administration, insurance, financial services and tax consultancy etc.
There are no detailed analyses of wind energy influence in increase of employment in Poland. Experiences of countries where wind energy developed, show significant influence of the sector on increase of employment. In Germany development of RES sector resulted in creation of about 130.000 new workplaces. In Spain in 2003 – according to data of Eolica Emprisal Platform - 7000 new workplaces were created directly in wind energy sector and 20000 workplaces in neighboring sectors. Reports for the UK speak about 4000 workplaces created directly in the sector, at the same time estimations show that planned offshore investments can contribute to creation of 20000 places only in Great Britain.
19. Is production of energy from wind highly subsidized in Poland?
At present, producers of energy from wind farms can only apply for support for realization of investments of wind parks construction from the National Environment Protection and Water Management Fund. Rules of granting and amortizing loans and granting guarantees, credits and donations from the Fund’s resources are not especially favorable for wind energy. The Fund grants only preferable grants and offers subsidies for payment of credits’ interest rates. It does not, however, give support in the shape of donations. During 2000-2006 the Fund signed two contracts on subfinancing Tymien and Kamieńsk projects for the total amount of 137,3 thousand zł.
EkoFund withheld accepting applications for wind projects with payments predicted in 2006 and in 2007 (temporary inaccessibility of a significant part of resources from eco conversion of Poland’s debt).
Wind energy is also excluded from the possibility of applying for resources from the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and EOG Financial Mechanism.
Investors interested in sub financing projects could not in reality apply also for support from structural funds for 2004-2006. Investors interested in realization of wind projects had to compete with commercial investments from other sectors mainly within SOP ICE 2.2.1. Beneficiaries of sub-action 2.4.3 "Air protection", an action that theoretically was to be dedicated for support of renewable energy sources, could only be objects of burning fuels with a heat capacity entered in fuel bigger than 50 MW.
The main source of support for investments is currently sales of the so called green certificates thus property rights given to certificates of origin which are a confirmation of production of energy in renewable sources.
20. Does Poland have sufficient wind conditions to develop exploitation of wind turbines for production of energy?
Wind conditions in Poland are close to those at the area of Germany that is a country that is a leader in exploiting wind energy.
Unfortunately, Poland does not have at its disposal a detailed wind atlas, while measurements of wind parameters for the need of wind energy (direction and speed) were conducted in few places in the country. However, these results and analyses of available measurement data show that favorable conditions are at the area of 2/3 lf Poland’s territory. It is not only the sea belt but also warmińsko - mazurskie, podkarpackie or podlaskie voivodships.
However, it has to be remembered that in order to unequivocally assess attractiveness of a chosen location in the extent of wind resources, it is obligatory to conduct wind measurements at the area where construction of a wind farm is planned.
21. Do hurricane winds cause maximization of energy produced by wind turbines?
Hurricane winds do not contribute to increase of energy produced by wind turbines. When wind blows at very high speeds, wind turbines are turned off because of security reasons.
Each type of a wind turbine has a defined the so called power curve i.e. relationship that informs what amount of energy will be produced by a turbine with a particular wind speed. Range of a wind speed when a turbine is put into motion producing energy at the same time, ranges usually from 3 [m/s] to 25 [m/s] for appliances of big capacity. With wind speed below 3 [m/s] a turbine does not operate while over 25 [m/s] a turbine is stopped.
Each power curve has an optimum wind speed (about 12-14m/s), when maximum energy amount is produced and even increase of wind speed does not cause increase of production. Thus, it is much more advantageous for wind energy are strong and stable winds rather than rapidly changing wind conditions.
22. Why should wind energy be developed?
Wind Energy allows to reach numerous ecological, economic and social advantages. The most important ecological advantages of exploiting wind turbines are:
- reduction of greenhouse gases emissions, including CO2, and thus preventing further climate change;
- improvement of air quality by avoidance of SO2, NOx and dusts emission to the atmosphere;
- lack of solid and gas waste, odors and refuse water, lack of water and soil contamination, lack of terrains degradation and losses in water circulation that take place when producing energy in conventional heat and power stations;
- wind is an inexhaustible and renewable energy source, its exploitation allows to save the limited fossil fuels resources;
- the technology lacks risk of application (e.g. reactor damage which is connected to the use of nuclear energy);
- use of wind does not cause decrease of level of underground waters that is accompanied by output of fossil fuels (coal).
Among the most important social and economic advantages one should mention:
- lack of fuels' costs (source that is not influenced by risk of fuel prices fluctuation, which allows to eliminate influence of fuel prices fluctuation on economy);
- development of new sectors and generation of income for the state, local governments and companies (including tax incomes);
- creation of new workplaces;
- creation of economic growth;
- influence on development and elicitation of regions;
- development of new technologies and innovations;
- diversification of energy sources and decrease of dependence on import of energy in particular import of raw materials, and thus increase of energy security of a country;
- security in terms of excessive increase of energy prices that is produced in conventional sources;
- development of transmission and distribution of energy infrastructure;
- development of communication infrastructure;
- decrease of costs and losses in transmission by bringing producer and consumer closer;
- influence on sustainable development.
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