GwindPP

The Positive Environmental Externalities of Wind Farms Wind power generation may reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing conventional fossil-fuel-based power plants.   Conventional power plants emit greenhouse gases from fuel burning. The amount of carbon dioxide emissions depends on the quantity of fuel burnt and the amount of carbon in the fuel (Denny & O’Malley 2006).   The quantity of carbon dioxide savings due to wind power generation varies case by case depending on power system characteristics.   Other environmental benefits of wind power include avoiding damage to crops and forests by local air pollution. Also, avoiding water pollution from conventional power plants (World Bank 2015).  

 The Negative Environmental Externalities of Wind Farms The negative impact of wind farms on an ecosystem, landscape, and biodiversity are externalities. The more common negative externalities of wind power projects are visual and noise effects and the impact on birds.   Brennan & Van Rensburg (2016) estimated a willingness to accept the negative impacts of wind farms in Ireland. Most survey respondents showed a willingness to accept the negative externalities of wind farms for some monetary compensation (Brennan & Van Rensburg 2016).   Mattmann et al. (2016) conducted a quantitative non-market valuation meta-analysis of wind power externalities based on a data set of 60 observations drawn from 32 studies. The analysis states the importance of visual effects for wind power acceptance. However, the negative impacts of wind power projects on biodiversity are not significant in welfare measures ( Mattmann et al. 2015).   Bird mortality d...