Microplastics from wind turbines
A recent (July 2021) Norwegian report entitled Leading edge erosion and pollution from wind turbine blades reveals that wind turbine blades suffer erosion due to rain, hail etc.
That may not be surprising, but what is a surprise is the amount of material they shed, what it is and where it goes. I quote information from that report.
A turbine with 120M diameter, such as those intended for erection by Viking Energy will shed around 62kg of microplastics per year in the form of epoxy resin. Epoxy resin contains bisphenol A (BPA).
The World Health Organisation states that drinking water should have a maximum of 0.1 micrograms of BPA per litre to be safe. One kg of BPA is sufficient to render 10 billion litres of water unsafe to drink.
Each of the 103 intended turbines will spread over the ground enough BPA to contaminate millions of litres of water.
It will get into the water courses and eventually into the sea, poisoning wildlife and us on the way.
Offshore turbines are even worse because of the salt water they encounter. It is estimated that they shed 40 per cent more of this microplastic material to be consumed and absorbed by fish and other marine life.
This problem may be out of sight, but are we out of our minds?
Stuart Hill
Cunningsburgh
Keep Shetland’s news open to everyone
Your membership helps us report the stories that matter to Shetland — and keep them free for everyone to read.
Already a member? Sign in.
