Kangaroo Island, 2013.10.13

In ecology, as in energetics and in economics, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Giant wind turbines have been promoted to the iconic status of flag-ship for so-called “green energy”. But what makes sense economically on a small scale in some very specific situations (most particularly at sea), does not make sense on a large land-based scale. Because rules of thermodynamics and physics make wind-generated energy unefficient and costly at large scale, and the wind patterns inland and at sea are not the same. And because the nuisances and externalities created by large turbines are massive, socially, economically, ecologically and epidemiologically.

While the debate is ongoing about projects to situate giant wind turbines on Kangaroo Island, it is worth to be acquainted with what’s happening elsewhere, even though the island project has hit the wall of major technical issues — because the political pressure for this dubious development will not stop at technical issues. In Germany, where these turbines are popping up everywhere, devastating the landscape, nature and quality of life, it looks like a giant historical error is being made. There’s a lot going on downunder to promote public expenditure in and subsidy of wind-farms to the benefit of mostly vested interests and to the detriment of the countryside population, the landscape and the fauna. As a nature lover, I hope Kangaroo Island will not become another showcase of failed or misleading so-called “green politics”.

Before rushing into a blind alley, better to inquire about what’s been ongoing elsewhere. So here are three articles from Germany, worth pondering.

One on the heavy social cost and political impact of the development of wind farms.

One about the disastrous impact on the fauna of the giant turbines.

One on the delusion or even swindle of some of the so-called “green energy” policies.

These posts can be read as complementary to the one addressing the public health problems created by the turbines.

Dr Gabriel Bittar,
Kangaroo Island