Landscape and Visual

Wind turbines need to be tall to capture the most wind and generate maximum electricity. In a well designed wind farm, generally the only impact is of a visual nature.

Most people think they are graceful, elegant and a positive sign of how we are acting to reduce harmful carbon emissions. Others think that they are "blots on the landscape". This is the most subjective issue surrounding wind farms. To assess the level of visibility, impact and acceptability a Landscape and Visual Assessment is undertaken. This is a detailed process which involves the creation of a Zone of Visual Influence, showing where the tips (the highest point of the turbines) would be visible from, if vegetation and man-made structures did not obscure any view.

We invite all members of the local community to visit a wind farm to see and hear an operational wind farm for themselves. Register if you are interested in visiting an operational wind farm.

Photomontages are made as part of the Planning Application to show what the wind farm will look like once it is completed. View the Photomontages here.