Assessment of Erosion Impact, Climate Factors, and Infrasound Exposure Implications
WIND TURBINE BLADE EROSION: THE BIG DEBATE UNRAVELED
Monday, June 01, 2025, 12:05 PM
Strategy - The RadioMi
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What's the truth behind wind turbine blade erosion claims? The expansion of wind energy has stirred both supporters and opponents in Germany, and one of the controversies that often arises is erosion damages to rotor blades. Our team dives deep to fact-check various claims made by the opponents and separates the truth from speculation.
Claim: Annual material wear of 1,300 tons due to erosion of rotor blades and spread within a 100-kilometer radius
The Thuringian "Forest Citizens' Initiative" refers to a document from the Scientific Services of the German Bundestag as evidence for this claim. However, the total material abrasion of 1,395 tons per year for all wind power plants in Germany, as stated in the report, is merely a "very rough upper estimate." The actual value is likely to be significantly lower, according to Steffen Czichon, head of the rotor blade department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems.
The calculation provided a simplified extrapolation for a basic understanding of the problem, and Czichon suggests that the particles may not be spread over such a large distance. He concludes it would be challenging to measure this phenomenon, and a 100-kilometer radius could lead to unrealistic results.
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Although material is released through erosion on wind turbine blades, experts argue that we should put this number in context. In comparison, the abrasion values for tires (102,090 tons per year) and shoe soles (9,047 tons per year) are far greater[1][2].
Claim: Wind turbines intensify cloud formation, leading to heavy rain
Photos have been circulating on social media, depicting a cloud phenomenon over the Horns Rev wind farm off the coast of Denmark in 2008, which opponents often use as supposed evidence of "weather manipulation" by wind turbines.
After investigating the origin of the photo, a fact-check report by CORRECTIV reveals that the cloud formation has no influence on the weather or the occurrence of heavy rain. The wind turbines merely stirred up a flat fog layer over the sea surface[3].
Claim: Wind turbines cause drought and dryness
Although a minimal increase in ground temperature is possible in the immediate vicinity of wind turbines, this is not a cause of global warming. The overall area will not become warmer, as colder air from the ground is transported upwards, resulting in a cooling effect.
It's important to note that wind turbines do not introduce additional heat into the atmosphere, but they merely redistribute what is already present[4].
Claim: Infrasound affects and impairs humans and animals
One of the arguments against wind turbines is the low-frequency sound exposure, causing significant neurogenic and cardiogenic impairment. However, no clear connection between the low-frequency sound of wind turbines and health damages has been proven so far.
Studies show that the levels are usually well below medically relevant thresholds; however, some people may report feelings of discomfort, sleep disturbances, or anxiety[5]. In this case, psychological factors, such as perception and expectation, may also play a role.
[1] Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems, IWES (https://www.iwes.fraunhofer.de/)
[2] UMSICHT - Institute for Environmental Research, Safety and Energy Technology (https://www.umsicht.com/de/)
[3] CORRECTIV (https://www.correctiv.org/)
[4] DWD – German Weather Service (https://www.dwd.de/EN/)
[5] ourwebsite/wissen/faktencheck/faktencheck-windrad-100.html
In the discussion over wind turbine blade erosion, experts argue that the annual material wear of 1,300 tons due to erosion is a rough estimate, and the actual value could be lower. Moreover, in the debate about the impact of wind turbines on the environment, it's essential to note that claims of wind turbines causing drought and dryness are unfounded, as they primarily redistribute air temperature without introducing additional heat.
