Professor Dr. Miloš Banjac has addressed concerns raised about wind farms potentially worsening air quality. In response to recent claims by Velizar Stanković, a retired professor from the Technical Faculty of Bor, who argued that new wind farms in Banat could increase pollution and smog, Banjac offers a counterpoint.
According to Banjac, wind farms do not contribute to air pollution. He emphasizes that wind turbines do not emit solid particles, carbon dioxide (CO2), or other pollutants during their operation, making them a clean energy source. He explains that while wind turbines convert part of the wind’s energy into mechanical and then electrical energy, this process does not significantly alter the wind’s overall movement or air quality.
Banjac clarifies that concerns about wind farms affecting air pollution are misplaced. “Wind farms cannot stop or significantly slow down the wind,” he states. Air movement occurs at various heights and extends far beyond the turbines. The impact of wind turbines on local wind patterns is minimal and localized, affecting only the immediate area around the turbines. This localized effect is insignificant on a larger scale.
He further notes that wind turbines operate at different efficiencies based on wind speed. At low speeds (10-15 km/h), they are inactive. At moderate speeds (30-40 km/h), they operate at about 20% efficiency, and at optimal speeds (50 km/h), they utilize up to 50% of the wind’s energy. Beyond 100 km/h, turbines cease operation. Despite using some of the wind’s energy, this does not translate to a noticeable reduction in wind speed or air quality over a broader area.
Banjac dismisses claims that the construction of new wind farms around Pančevo could reduce air and wind flow, asserting that the influence of these wind farms on a city as distant as Belgrade would be negligible. He encourages a focus on reducing other sources of pollution, such as vehicle emissions and the use of wood and coal stoves, rather than attributing air quality issues to wind energy.
In summary, Banjac reaffirms that wind farms are not a source of increased air pollution and that their impact on wind patterns is minimal, emphasizing the need to address other significant sources of pollution.
