Wind turbines on agricultural land have become a symbol in the wider fight over net zero. For some they represent clean energy and extra income for struggling farms.
For others they mean lost fields, constant noise and damaged wildlife.
Hans-Georg von Lewinski of renewable platform Caeli argues the reality is less dramatic than the rhetoric.
On land take, he says turbines occupy far less space than many assume. A modern onshore unit typically sits on a concrete base around 15 to 25 metres in diameter.
While access tracks and safety clearances are required, the majority of the surrounding land remains in productive use.
Livestock can graze and crops can be grown around the structure. Planning rules require developers to show how agricultural productivity will be maintained.
Noise is another flashpoint. Von Lewinski points out that UK projects must pass detailed acoustic assessments and comply with strict thresholds set through planning guidance. Turbines can be operated in lower-noise modes and curtailed if limits are approached.
In most cases, measured levels are comparable to typical rural background sound.
On wildlife, proposals are subject to ecological surveys and mitigation under existing conservation law.
Micro-siting to avoid sensitive habitats, buffer zones and seasonal restrictions are common conditions. He accepts poor siting can cause impacts but says the planning framework is designed to prevent that.
Claims that turbines alter local weather patterns are not backed by scientific evidence, he adds. Any atmospheric effects are minor and dissipate quickly.
The underlying point is that turbines are large and visible and that drives strong reactions but von Lewinski argues not all their criticisms hold up to scrutiny.
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