Wind energy plays an important role in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies to counteract human-induced climate change. However, there are some prejudices against this green energy source. For example, it is suspected that wind turbines are responsible for droughts, as they lead to more dryness and less precipitation. The more than 28,600 wind turbines (WT) that are installed in rural areas in Germany, according to the German Wind Energy Association (as of 2023 ), have effects on the environment, but they are not directly related to droughts. Because they do not generate additional heat that escapes into the atmosphere, instead they simply mix warm and cold air around the turbine. Therefore, wind turbines do not affect the global climate.
“In the immediate vicinity of the installation, the wind field is naturally influenced,” says Prof. Johannes Quaas from the Institute of Meteorology at the University of Leipzig. Quaas refers to the microclimate within a radius of up to a few kilometers around the wind turbines. This can be illustrated with the following example: Early in the morning, the air just above the ground is still relatively cold. Since cold air is heavier than warm air, it accumulates near the ground. When the rotor blades of the wind turbines rotate at a certain height above the ground, they swirl the cold air upwards and the warm air downwards. This increases the temperature near the ground and the air becomes slightly drier.
This mixing of the ambient air by wind turbines can have both advantages and disadvantages for agricultural land: One positive effect is that wind turbines can reduce the number of days with soil frost. This, in turn, can lead to an extended growing season for plants. In other areas, especially in dry regions, it can have a negative impact if the soil dries out faster due to the air movement caused by the turbines. The specific effects depend heavily on the location of the wind turbines. Very large wind farms can also have a minor impact on the local temperature near the turbines. However, they generally have a positive impact on the climate: Because of wind energy, less coal and gas need to be burned, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions being released.
Comparing the environmental impact of wind turbines with other changes in the landscape, it becomes clear that cities, high-rise buildings, and new residential areas often have a stronger influence on the microclimate. In particular, conventional power plants that emit a lot of heat into the environment and also release greenhouse gases have a significantly more negative effect on the climate than wind turbines. Wind energy is, in comparison, the more environmentally friendly alternative.
The causes of droughts include changing climatic conditions. Prolonged high-pressure systems can prevent cloud formation and therefore precipitation. Higher temperatures due to climate change can lead to faster evaporation and less water storage in the soil. This exacerbates dryness, especially in already dry regions. So, it is not the wind turbines causing droughts, but rather climate change.
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