Wind is a waste

It is beyond comprehension that any engineer can seriously consider wind turbines as a viable technology for the provision of an essential service

I am somewhat concerned, having read the Survey section in Professional Engineering for December. 

It is beyond by comprehension that any engineer can seriously consider wind turbines as a viable technology for the provision of an essential service. As has been stated many times already in both technical and lay media, the load factor for these contraptions is currently running at 20% or less. Is there any other field in which 500% redundancy would be tolerated in new-build equipment? As far as can be seen, these machines still generate plenty of subsidy and next to no power so why are we getting even more of them along with the associated waste of precious resources and materials consumed in their construction.

Richard Charnock-Smith, Largs, Ayrshire

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