Rethinking Wind Energy

Rethinking Wind Energy

Wind energy; Developing New Technology

News:

1.       Global scientific research reveals that generation of wind energy has high indirect impact on the ecosystem

Important Facts:

2.       India has a renewable energy target of 175GW by 2022 and wind energy is one of the most popular renewable energy technologies in India
3.       Wind farms are mostly located in the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
4.       Wind farms need large forest land diversion and denudation and also fragments forest land through access roads and transmission lines
5.       It also increases the chances of forest fires
6.       There has also been growing evidence that generation of wind energy has adverse impact on the ecosystem. Examples:

•         Various researches have shown that in the Pacific islands, bat activity is 20% lower in areas with windmills.
•         In Texas, there has been a 77% decrease in redhead ducks in coastal ponds with wind farms
•         In Rajasthan, transmission lines and spinning blades of wind turbines have increased the mortality rate of the Great Indian Bustard (Designated as Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List)
•         Studies by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore have revealed wind-farms result in a decrease in population of birds, rodents and smaller animals. Lower levels of predation have increased lizard population, resulting in increased competition and decrease in consumable resources

7.       In India, the guidelines for wind energy do not focus on the mitigation of the impact on wildlife.
8.       With the growing evidence on indirect impact of windmills on ecosystem, the government should formulate policies to combat the effects.