Report on the Viability and Sustainability of Wind Energy

Introduction: Assessing Wind Power in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This report analyzes several assertions made regarding wind energy, evaluating their validity against current data and industry practices. The assessment places significant emphasis on the role of wind power in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Analysis of Wind Energy Cost-Effectiveness

Contribution to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Onshore Wind: Onshore wind power is recognized as one of the most inexpensive forms of new electricity generation, directly supporting the goal of providing affordable energy.
• Offshore Wind: While initial construction costs for offshore wind farms are higher, they generate electricity at a very low and stable cost once operational. This price stability contrasts sharply with the volatility of international fossil fuel markets, contributing to long-term energy security and affordability.
• Comparative Costs: Even with associated costs for grid integration, wind energy is less expensive to build than new nuclear power and cheaper to generate than electricity from fossil fuels, making it a critical tool for achieving SDG 7.

Assessment of Impact on Marine Ecosystems

Alignment with SDG 14: Life Below Water

1. Scientific Evidence: According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are no established links between offshore wind farm activities and whale fatalities.
2. Construction Impact: While the construction phase can cause temporary disturbances to marine mammals, the scale of these activities is significantly smaller than those associated with offshore oil and gas exploration.
3. Primary Threats to Marine Life: The most significant threats to whales and marine ecosystems are entanglement in fishing gear and the effects of climate change, such as ocean warming and acidification. By providing a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels, wind power actively contributes to mitigating these threats, thereby supporting the objectives of SDG 14 and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Evaluation of Impact on Avian Species

Upholding SDG 15: Life on Land

• Context of Avian Mortality: While wind turbines can cause bird collisions, the number of fatalities is minimal when compared to other anthropogenic sources such as domestic cats, power lines, and building collisions. The primary drivers of bird population decline remain habitat destruction and pesticide use.
• Mitigation and Innovation: The industry is actively developing solutions to minimize harm to wildlife. For example, a project that painted turbine blades black resulted in a 70% reduction in bird deaths, demonstrating a commitment to technological innovation in support of SDG 15.

Examination of Turbine Lifespan and Material Circularity

Progress Towards SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Operational Lifespan: Wind turbines have a standard operational lifespan of 20-25 years, not eight.
2. Recyclability: Approximately 96% of a wind turbine’s components, including steel, copper, and aluminum, are recyclable.
3. Blade Waste Innovation: While turbine blades made from non-biodegradable fiberglass have historically been sent to landfill, the industry is advancing circular economy principles. New processes allow blades to be repurposed into materials for cement manufacturing, pedestrian bridges, and highway noise barriers, aligning with the goals of SDG 12.

Global Manufacturing and Local Economic Contributions

Supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

• Global Supply Chain: China is currently the leading manufacturer of wind turbines, accounting for a majority of global production.
• Local Economic Growth: The wind manufacturing sector is a growing component of the green economy in many nations, including the UK. This expansion creates skilled jobs and stimulates economic growth, particularly in post-industrial areas, directly contributing to the objectives of SDG 8.

Public and Occupational Safety Assessment

Ensuring Safe and Sustainable Infrastructure

• Safety Record: Fatalities related to wind energy are extremely rare and are almost exclusively occupational accidents during the construction phase, a risk common to all large-scale industrial and energy projects.
• Public Threat Level: Wind turbines do not pose a fatal threat to the general public. Their operation is consistent with the development of safe, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure as outlined in the SDGs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses several issues related to wind power that connect to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on energy, but it also touches upon economic, environmental, and industrial aspects.

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The text directly debates the cost and viability of wind power as a clean energy source. It refutes the claim that wind is the “most expensive form of energy” by stating that onshore wind is “cheap to build and generates electricity very inexpensively” and is “cheaper to generate than fossil fuels.”

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   The article addresses the concern that wind turbines harm marine life, specifically whales. It examines the claim that turbines drive whales “loco” and concludes that, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “There are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities.” It contrasts this with the known threats from the fishing industry and “warming and acidification of oceans caused by global heating from burning fossil fuels.”

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   This goal is relevant through the discussion of wind turbines’ impact on birds. The article acknowledges that turbines “kill the birds” but contextualizes this by noting the proportion is “tiny compared with the amount killed, for example, by domestic cats and from flying into power lines.” This connects to the protection of biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   The article touches upon the lifecycle and waste management of wind turbines. It refutes the claim that turbines are “binned” after eight years by stating they have a “typical lifespan of 20-25 years.” It also highlights efforts towards a circular economy, mentioning that “96% of a wind turbine is made from recyclable materials” and that scientists are finding ways to repurpose non-biodegradable blades.

5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   The development and deployment of wind farms represent an investment in sustainable infrastructure. The article mentions the need for grid updates (“Britain’s electricity grid has not been sufficiently updated”) and the growth of a domestic manufacturing sector (“The UK wind manufacturing sector is growing”), which are key components of this SDG.

6. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The article links the expansion of wind energy to economic benefits. It states that the UK’s wind manufacturing sector is “providing jobs in post-industrial areas in particular,” which aligns with the goal of promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and productive employment.

7. SDG 13: Climate Action

   While not the main focus, this goal underpins the entire debate. The promotion of wind power is a core strategy for climate action. The article implicitly supports this by debunking anti-wind claims and explicitly mentions the negative impact of “global heating from burning fossil fuels” on whale survival, reinforcing the need to transition to cleaner energy sources like wind.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article’s entire discussion about the construction of new onshore and offshore wind farms, such as the Kirk Hill windfarm, directly relates to increasing the share of renewable energy.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The article addresses this by discussing the 20-25 year lifespan of turbines and the fact that “96% of a wind turbine is made from recyclable materials.” It also mentions innovative reuse methods for blades, such as creating “pedestrian footbridges in Ireland and noise barriers for highways in the US.”

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The article analyzes the potential adverse impacts of offshore wind farms on whales, concluding that there are “no known links” to whale deaths and that the disturbance is less than that from oil and gas exploration.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The article discusses the impact on bird populations and mentions mitigation efforts, such as a project in Norway that “painted its turbines black, which resulted in 70% fewer bird deaths,” demonstrating action to reduce harm to biodiversity.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The article’s focus on wind turbines as a clean technology and the mention of the need to update “Britain’s electricity grid” to handle renewable energy sources directly align with this target.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article points to the growth of the “UK wind manufacturing sector as part of the green economy,” which represents economic diversification and technological upgrading.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For SDG 7 (Target 7.2):

  • Cost of electricity generation: The article provides specific figures, such as the wholesale gas price (£78/MWh) and the maximum price for offshore wind auctions (£113/MWh), which serve as indicators of the affordability of different energy sources.
  • Installed capacity of renewable energy: The mention of the “onshore Kirk Hill windfarm… producing energy from eight turbines” is an indicator of an increase in renewable energy capacity.

• For SDG 12 (Target 12.5):

  • Recycling rate of materials: The statement that “96% of a wind turbine is made from recyclable materials” is a direct indicator of material recyclability.
  • Product lifespan: The “typical lifespan of 20-25 years” for a wind turbine is an indicator of durability and reduced frequency of waste generation.

• For SDG 15 (Target 15.5):

  • Reduction in wildlife mortality from mitigation measures: The statistic that painting turbine blades black “resulted in 70% fewer bird deaths” is a clear indicator of the effectiveness of measures to protect biodiversity.

• For SDG 14 (Target 14.2):

  • Data on marine mammal mortality: The statement from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration about “no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities” serves as a qualitative indicator used to assess the impact on marine ecosystems.

• For SDG 8 (Target 8.2):

  • Job creation in the green economy: The mention of the wind sector “providing jobs in post-industrial areas” is an implied indicator of green job growth.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com