Wind turbine syndrome is spread by scaremongers

New study: wind turbine syndrome is spread by scaremongers | Simon Chapman

A study of mine published last night delivers a double whammy to those who argue that wind turbines cause health problems in communities.

Earlier this week researchers at the University of Auckland published an experimental study showing that people primed by watching online information about health problems from wind turbines, reported more symptoms after being exposed to recorded infrasound or to sham (fake) infrasound.

The study provided powerful evidence for the nocebo hypothesis: the idea that anxiety and fear about wind turbines being spread about by anti-wind farm groups, will cause some people hearing this scary stuff to get those symptoms.

Welcome to Victoria, no wind farms allowed

Welcome to Victoria, no wind farms allowed
Posted by Alexander White

Welcome to my home state of Victoria, Australia's hub of art and culture, lane-way cafes and wonderful coffee, Aussie Rules football, themiraculous leadbeater's possum, and magnificent forests.

And also, after law changes in 2011, one of the most difficult places in the world to build a wind farm.

Back in 2011, the then-premier of Victoria, Ted Baillieu, enacted lawsthat, according to The Conversation website, effectively imposes a blanket ban on wind farms in many parts of the state:

They effectively give the owners of any dwelling within 2km of a proposed wind farm the power to decide whether or not the development should proceed.

The laws were part of the conservative Liberal-National coalition's 2010 election platform to "restore fairness and certainty to the planning process for wind farms". The laws have definitely provided certainty.

Wind power opponents may be blowing hot air

Wind power opponents may be blowing hot air
April 18, 2013When it comes to wind power, we have to be careful to ensure that impacts on the environment and on animals such as birds and bats are minimized, and we should continue to study possible effects on health. But we must also be wary of false arguments against it.

By David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Communications Manager Ian Hanington.

Opposition to windmills often centres on health effects, but what is it about wind power that causes people to feel ill? According to recent research, it may not be the infrasound from wind-energy installations but, oddly enough, the warnings from opponents.

Bottom of Form 

For a study published in the American Psychological Association's Health Psychology journal, researchers from New Zealand's University of Auckland showed readily available anti-wind-power film footage to 27 people. Another 27 were shown interviews with experts who said infrasound, such as that created by wind turbines, can't directly cause negative health effects. Subjects were then told they would be exposed to two 10-minute periods of infrasound, but were actually only exposed to one.

Wind Potential – All About the Data

Wind Potential – All About the Data
Amy Malloy 
May 22, 2013


When it comes to the deployment of wind power, data plays an important role in the design and operations of a wind farm. Is there enough wind? Where should the turbines be placed? How will the placement of turbines impact performance? Are the turbines in need of maintenance? Data collected from technologically advanced monitoring devices answers these questions. Data analysis helps to advance wind power as a renewable energy source.

Met Tower

The initial planning of a wind farm begins with selection of the proper location, not surprisingly, where wind resources are abundant. Wind resource assessment is the process by which a developer estimates future energy production from a wind farm. Research often begins with maps published by government agencies. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a desirable location will have an average wind speed of at least 9-10 mph. A preliminary site is then selected for on-site data collection. A meteorological tower (met tower) is installed to measure wind speed (with an anemometer), wind direction (using a weather vane), temperature, pressure, and relative humidity. Details, such as elevation and time of day, are factored in as well. Data from the met tower is collected for a minimum of about one year to determine the economic feasibility of a project.

India Releases Draft Offshore Wind Energy Policy

India Releases Draft Offshore Wind Energy Policy

Jeff Postelwait, Associate Editor, Electric Light & Power 

May 29, 2013

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has released a draft national offshore wind energy policy for 2013. The draft policy was written with input from a steering committee on offshore wind energy. According to the draft, onshore wind energy has reached a stage of deployment that makes it competitive with traditional fossil fuel power generation. 

This level of cost competitiveness is thanks to supportive public policy that has, so far, not been extended to include offshore wind energy, according to the draft.

About 5 GW of offshore wind generation capacity is installed worldwide, with an equal amount in development or under construction. Top countries in the offshore wind market include the U.K., Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Germany. The E.U. set a goal of 40 GW in offshore wind capacity by 2020 and 150 GW by 2030.

Wind energy is bright light in an otherwise grim report

Wind energy is bright light in an otherwise grim report

By Chris Rose | Published 24 Apr 2013

Maria van der Hoeven, IEA

The continued expansion of wind power, coupled with a decrease in costs for the emissions-free electricity-generating technology, was one of the few positive notes in a new International Energy Agency (IEA) report on efforts to create a low-carbon world.

The IEA report, which was presented in India last week to the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), said that wind power capacity grew by 19% from 2011 to 2012 despite ongoing economic problems.

In its report, Tracking Clean Energy Progress, the IEA described onshore wind power as “one of the most cost-competitive renewable energy sources” and noted generation from 2000 to 2011 increased by 400 TWh (+27% per year), reaching an estimated 435 TWh in 2011.