Wind Solar Farms Effect On Local Climate

Soon we may not have to rely on fossil fuels as renewable energy is coming to the fore. As a result of the Paris Agreement, the push is surging forward, and it is expected that wind farms and solar power plants will be appearing across the globe.

There is a lot of debate surrounding wind farms as although it is accepted, they are an excellent source of energy. There is a problem when it comes to reliability. They are seen as ugly and of no use if the wind is not strong. There is another concern and that is the effect on the surrounding areas when the wind path has been altered.

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Environmental Research Letters has published a study showing that there is an effect on the earth below a land-based wind farm is warmer than it would be without it. When the farm is offshore, however, there is not an adverse effect when it comes to ecology.

Professor Stephen Mobbs at the University of Leeds has told the BBC that there had been concerns about the effects wind farms could have on the surrounding area, but because there was not any concrete evidence, they set out to get the facts. Scottish wind farm Black Law has been working since 2005 and is the farm chosen to be researched.

Temperature and humidity sensors were put in place, and the microclimate was monitored. The use of the turbines did heat the ground around them, but not to a problematic degree. Even the effect on plants was negligible.

Feature photo: Alphacoders / xGhostx