Will wind power stations replace the gas, oil and coal-fired stations which cause pollution?
No. The unpredictability of wind means that traditional power stations have to be kept open as back-up for when the wind is too light or too strong for the turbines to generate sufficient electricity.
If operating in ’spinning reserve’, these power stations create more emissions per unit of electricity generated than when running at full power, further reducing the overall savings.
Professor David Simpson looked at the wider picture in his 2004 report: "Because of the cost of providing additional stand-by generating capacity, it is unlikely that wind power will ever account for more than 20% of electricity generation through the National Grid. That being the case, its development can make no substantial contribution to an overall reduction in carbon emissions."