What Is the Carbon Footprint of Wind Energy? A Life-Cycle Assessment
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Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources that promises the lowest levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. So we had to ask: What is the carbon footprint of wind energy?
Wind energy has the lowest carbon footprint of all energy types. On a life-cycle basis, onshore wind emits 11, and offshore wind emits 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh of electricity produced. Wind energy helps combat climate change and has various additional environmental benefits.
Wind energy makes up an ever-growing amount of total energy consumption and has various environmental implications. Keep reading to learn about the overall carbon footprint of wind energy, its carbon footprint throughout its life-cycle, and its environmental impact.
How is Wind Energy Defined
Wind energy is defined as the conversion of moving air into electrical energy through the use of wind turbines. Wind is a form of solar energy that is caused by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface, irregularities of the earth’s surface, and the earth’s rotation.
“Wind: a current of air moving approximately horizontally, especially one strong enough to be felt”
Cambridge Dictionary
Harnessing wind energy falls into two main categories:
- Onshore wind energy: Wind turbines are located on land. Construction, transportation, maintenance costs, and infrastructure needed to transmit electricity from onshore turbines to consumers are low.
- Offshore wind energy: Wind turbines are located in the ocean or freshwater. Construction, transportation, maintenance costs, and infrastructure needed to transmit electricity from offshore turbines to consumers are high.
Onshore wind is the main mechanism used today to harness wind energy. An average annual wind speed of 9 miles per hour (mph) for small turbines and 13mph for utility-scale turbines is necessary to economically harness wind energy.
There are also two types of wind turbines:
- Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT): Blades are assembled on a horizontal axis parallel to the ground. They can only receive and process wind head-on.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT): Blades are assembled on a vertical axis perpendicular to the ground. They can receive and process wind from all directions, giving them a greater energy generation potential. t can generate anywhere from 4.8 to 9.5 mw of power.
What is the Carbon Footprint of Wind Energy
The carbon footprint is one of the ways we measure the effects of human-induced global climate change. It primarily focuses on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with consumption and includes other emissions such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
“Carbon footprint: the amount of greenhouse gases and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period”
Merriam Webster
Basically, it is the amount of carbon emitted by an activity or an organization. This includes GHG emissions from fuel that we burn directly (e.g., heating a home, driving a car) and GHG emissions from manufacturing the products that we use (e.g., power plants, factories, and landfills).
What Is the Overall Carbon Footprint of Wind Energy
On a life-cycle basis, onshore wind energy emits 11 and offshore wind energy emits 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh of electricity produced, the joint-lowest out of all fuel types.
Wind energy produces 0.02% of the CO2 emissions per unit of electricity than coal produces. And after 3 to 6 months of operation, a wind turbine has effectively offset all emissions from its construction, which means it can operate virtually carbon-free for the rest of its lifetime.
Wind energy produced over 2,300 TWh of electricity in 2023, which was second only to hydropower. Currently, China leads the world in wind power generation (885 TWh) followed by the US (425 TWh), Germany (137 TWh), Brazil (95 TWh), and the United Kingdom (82 TWh).
The global installed capacity of wind energy increased by a factor of 75 between 1997 and 2018, increasing from 7.5 GW to over 564 GW. Since 2018, installed capacity has almost doubled to reach a high of 1,017 GW.
Because wind energy is one of the cheapest and fastest-growing renewable energy technologies with a low carbon emissions profile, it is important to understand what its carbon footprint is and how its carbon emissions affect the global climate change process.
To understand the carbon footprint of wind energy, we must assess its life-cycle and each stage’s carbon footprint. This life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of products and materials. Over the years, companies have strategically used LCA to research and create more sustainable products. So, let’s have a look at the LCA of wind energy!
| The life-cycle stages of wind energy | Each stage’s carbon footprint |
| Building of wind energy | CO2 emissions from the construction of wind power plants and electricity delivery mechanism |
| Operating of wind energy | Little to no CO2 emissions or waste products |
| Building back of wind energy | CO2 emissions from decommissioning the wind turbines and land restoration |
The total carbon footprint of wind energy would equal the carbon footprint from building + the carbon footprint from operating + the carbon footprint from building back.
What Is the Carbon Footprint of Building Wind Energy
The building stage of wind energy involves constructing wind turbines and electricity delivery mechanisms.
Emissions at this stage vary based on the type and size of the wind farm, with larger farms requiring more materials and resulting in more emissions from construction. Essentially, the smaller the wind farm, the cleaner the building stage is considered.
Wind farms require many components including towers, rotors, nacelles, generators, and turbine foundations, as well as transmission lines, transformers, and substations, all of which come with their own carbon footprint and resulting greenhouse gas emissions.
What Is the Carbon Footprint of Operating and Maintaining Wind Energy
The operating and maintaining stage of wind energy includes the process by which wind farms capture wind and convert it into electricity.
There are very few CO2 emissions or waste products associated with operating and maintaining wind energy, making this phase very clean.
Whether we are talking about onshore or offshore wind, wind turbines generate electricity by using the aerodynamic force of rotor blades, which operate in the same manner as airplane wings or helicopter blades.
- Wind flows across the blades, causing air pressure on one side of the blade to decrease
- The difference in air pressure creates both lift and drag
- Because the force of the lift is greater than the force of the drag, the rotor spins
- The rotor is connected to a generator, which spins in return, generating electricity
The electricity is either stored for later use or is transported to a substation where it is transmitted to consumers by transmission lines. Transformers receive the electricity and either increase or decrease the voltage as needed before it can be delivered to consumers.
CO2 emissions at this stage are associated with the operation of the mechanical equipment (e.g., rotors, nacelles, engines, turbines, generators, substations, transformers) at the power plants.
What Is the Carbon Footprint of Building Back Wind Energy
Building back wind energy involves utilizing construction equipment to decommission wind turbines and restoring the land to its original form.
Emissions at this stage vary based on the type and size of the wind farm, with larger farms requiring more effort to decommission. Essentially, the smaller the wind farm, the cleaner the building back stage is considered.
Wind turbines require routine maintenance every 6 months and have a life expectancy of around 20 years. Wind turbines themselves are a valuable source of resources. The towers, foundations, generators, and gearboxes are typically recycled because they are made of concrete, steel, and cast iron. Wind turbine blades are more difficult to dispose of because they are made of composite materials. Cement co-processing is most often used to treat blade waste.
Emissions at this final stage occur when utilizing construction equipment to decommission the wind turbines, demolish buildings, and construct new buildings in the old power plant’s place.
What Role Does Wind Energy Play in Combating Climate Change
Climate change is arguably the most severe, long-term, global impact of fossil fuel combustion. Every year, approximately 37 billion tons of CO2 are emitted from burning fossil fuels. The carbon found in fossil fuels reacts with oxygen in the air to produce CO2. This warms the earth by acting as a heating blanket, and a warmer earth comes with a host of negative side effects.
Using wind energy instead of fossil fuel energy helps mitigate the following negative effects of climate change:
- Increasing temperatures: Earth’s atmosphere has warmed 1.5℃ since 1880. This may not seem like a lot, but these degrees create regional and seasonal temperature extremes, reduce sea ice, intensify rainfall and drought severity, and change habitat ranges for plants and animals.
- Rising sea levels: Global sea levels have increased approximately 8-9 inches since 1880, displacing people living along coastlines and destroying coastal habitats. Roads, bridges, subways, water supplies, oil and gas wells, power plants, sewage treatment plants, and landfills remain at risk if sea level rise goes unchecked.
- Melting of sea ice: Since 1979, arctic sea ice has declined by 30%. Sea ice plays a major role in regulating the earth’s climate by reflecting sunlight into space and providing habitat for animal species. If all of the glaciers on Earth melted, sea levels would rise by approximately 70 feet, effectively flooding out every coastal city on the planet.
- Changing precipitation patterns: Extreme weather events (e.g., hurricanes, floods, droughts) are becoming more common and more intense. Storm-affected areas will experience increased precipitation and flooding whereas areas located further from storm tracks will experience decreased precipitation and droughts.
- Ocean acidification: The ocean absorbs 30% of the CO2 released into the atmosphere, which decreases the pH (increases the acidity) of the ocean. In the past 200 years, the pH of oceans has decreased by 0.1 pH units, which translates to a 30% increase in acidity. Aquatic life unable to adjust to this rapid acidification will die off. A prime example of this is coral bleaching, where coral expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues as a result of changes in temperature, light, or nutrients.
The more we reduce CO2 emissions, the more we slow the rate of temperature rise, sea-level rise, ice melting, and ocean acidification. When these rates are slowed, the earth’s biodiversity does not have to struggle to adapt to temperature and pH changes. People will not be displaced due to the flooding of coastal areas. And icebergs will continue to provide climate regulation.
To help keep global temperature rise below 1.5C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, we must shift at least 80% of our electricity generation to low carbon sources. Over 120 countries have already stated their net-zero carbon emissions ambitions for 2050 or 2060. But only 12 countries have thus far proposed or enacted any legislation, indicating that there is more work to be done.
How Environmentally Friendly Is Wind Energy
The environmental impacts of wind energy largely depend on where wind farms are constructed.
“Environmentally friendly: (of products) not harming the environment.”
Cambridge Dictionary
Overall, wind energy is sustainable because it does not emit greenhouse gases, and land use, wildlife impact, and public health concerns can be mitigated by proper planning and siting of wind farms.
What Are Environmental Benefits of Wind Energy
Wind energy is a renewable and sustainable energy source that has a low carbon footprint, protects air quality, and generates very few waste products.
| 4 Environmental Benefits of Wind Energy | Quick Facts |
| Benefit #1: Wind energy is a renewable and sustainable energy source | Wind energy is a renewable and sustainable resource that can reduce emissions for generations to come. |
| Benefit #2: Wind energy has a low carbon footprint | Wind energy has one of the lowest carbon footprints out of all energy types. On a life-cycle basis, onshore wind energy emits 11 and offshore wind energy emits 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh of electricity produced, the joint-lowest out of all fuel types. |
| Benefit #3: Wind energy protects air quality | Wind energy produces a fraction of the pollution and toxic chemicals that fossil fuels produce, helping to protect air quality. |
| Benefit #4: Wind energy generates few waste products | Wind energy generates few waste products upon operation, and some components of wind energy can be recycled. |
What Are the Environmental Drawbacks of Wind Energy
Wind energy is an intermittent energy source, can cause noise and visual pollution, and can negatively impact wildlife if proper siting, construction, and disposal methods are not followed.
| Drawback #1: Wind energy is an intermittent energy source | Wind energy production is heavily influenced by location, time of year, and weather patterns, making it unpredictable at times. |
| Drawback #2: Wind energy can cause noise and visual pollution | The mechanical operation and large nature of wind turbines can generate noise and visual pollution. |
| Drawback #3: Wind energy can negatively impact wildlife | During wind energy site construction, the increased presence of people, traffic, and noises can disrupt grouse and other ground-nesting birds. In addition, spinning turbine blades can prove to be a hazard for birds and bats. |
Final Thoughts
Wind energy is an environmentally friendly energy source with a low carbon footprint across its building, operating, and building back phases. It produces the lowest CO2 emissions out of all energy types while creating jobs and promoting energy independence. Environmental concerns such as wildlife impact, land use, and noise pollution can all be mitigated by proper siting of wind farms. As we look towards a future powered by renewables, wind energy is a sustainable energy source that benefits both our atmosphere and Earth’s biota.
Stay impactful,
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