Impacts of Industry on the Physical Environment: Modern Industrial Development can be Sustainable

Question 1

Example: Wind farms in the UK

Answer 1

• Windfarms across the UK generated more electricity in 2016 than coal power plants.
• Coal electricity generation fell from 22.6% in 2015 to 9.2% in 2016 as three coal-fired power stations closed.
• Wind power provided 11.5% of electricity in 2016.
• The government must phase out coal power by 2025 to meet carbon targets, but expect the final plant to close within five years as environmental policies make coal increasingly uneconomic.

Question 2

Disadvantages of wind power

Answer 2

. Some people worry that wind turbines look ugly.
. Some people claim that property prices fall after the introduction of wind turbines.
. Some people believe that wind turbines have a negative effect on tourism.
. Some people would prefer all wind turbines to be put out at sea. whilst they could harness more wind, they would be very expensive and time consuming to build.
. Bir-lovers argue that wind turbines are responsible for the death of many birds.

Question 3

Advantages of wind power

Answer 3

. Wind power is a renewable source of energy.
. They can be used to supply energy in remote places.
. Wind power produces no greenhouse gas emissions or waste products.
. Projects are developed by a diverse range of people (from farmers to large energy companies).
. Wind turbines can promote tourism (e.g. a MORI poll in Scotland showed that 80% of tourists would be interested in visiting a wind farm).