Site Map |  Cymraeg   11 - 18 years > What can we do to reduce climate change? > Renewable energy in Wales > What are windfarms? Location of Welsh windfarms Opinions on windfarms in Wales Planning for windfarms in Wales Case study : Gelligaer wind farm ONSHORE WIND FARMS What are wind farms? Parys Mt Anglesey, © Photolibrary Wales Try This! Go to the  The British Wind Energy Association for an animation showing how wind farms work Facts: Large modern wind turbines have glass-fibre rotor blades  up to 65 meters diameter. The grey tubular steel towers are 25 to 80 meters high. Most wind turbines have three blades which face into the wind; the wind turns the blades round, this spins the shaft, which connects to a generator where the electricity is made. Wind turbines operate in wind speeds of 4 to 5 metres per second (around 10 miles an hour). Maximum power output is at 15 meters/second (around 33 miles per hour).In gale force winds, (25 metres/second, 50+ miles/hour) wind turbines shut down. A wind turbine lasts around 20-25 years. A typical wind farm with 20 turbines takes up 1 square kilometre, using 1% of the land. The remaining land can be used for other purposes, e.g farming or as natural habitat. One 1.8 MW wind turbine produces enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 1,000 households each year. Wind energy is one of the cheapest of the renewable energy technologies. A new onshore wind farm in a good location costs 3-4 pence per unit, [new coal (2.5-4.5p) new nuclear (4-7p)]. Electricity from smaller wind farms are more expensive.

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Offshore windfarms Other marine energy Hydroelectric power Other sources of renewable energy Location of renewable energy Decision making Getting involved