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Page last updated on 7th July 2025

What does a wind farm do and how does Great Britain benefit from wind energy?

Among the various renewable sources of energy, wind energy is one of the largest sources of electricity generation in Great Britain. But what is a wind farm, what are wind farms used for and could wind farms reduce your energy bills?

This guide will be taking a closer look at wind energy and how do we use wind energy in Great Britain. We'll also explore how much energy a wind farm can produce to power communities and businesses.

What's on this page?

What is a wind farm?
Where does wind energy come from?
What do wind farms do and how do wind farms work?
How much power do wind farms produce?
Wind farm pros and cons
How do wind farms work with smart meters?

Multiple wind turbines in the distance, with a field and flowers in the foreground.

What is a wind farm?

A wind farm, also known as a wind park, is an area of land where multiple wind turbines are installed to capture wind energy and convert it into electrical energy.

Wind farms can be offshore, onshore, or nearshore. So, what is an offshore wind farm? And what are onshore and nearshore wind farms?

Offshore wind farms are built out at sea, whilst onshore are located on land, and nearshore are about 3 kilometres from the coast.

Where does wind energy come from?

Wind energy comes from converting the power of wind into electrical energy, typically by using wind turbines.

Like energy harnessed from tidal or solar power, wind energy is a renewable energy source as it is as there is an infinite supply of wind.

Wind farms: how do they work and how do we use wind energy?

Wind farm technology has the ability to convert energy generated from the wind into electrical energy. Here's how it works:

The wind makes contact with the turbine, causing the blades to spin.
The spinning blades are connected to a shaft inside the turbine that also spins.
The spinning shaft is connected to a generator that converts the movement of the spinning blades into electricity.
The electricity can then be transported to homes or the grid.

How much power do wind farms produce?

“How much energy can a wind farm produce?” the exact amount depends on the size of the turbines and the speed of the wind.

According to Renewable UK, there are now more than 2,600 onshore wind farms in the UK alone, with a total capacity of 15 gigawatts. This would be enough energy to power 9.9 million homes for an entire year.

Wind farm technology: advantages and disadvantages

We’ve compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages of using wind energy as a source of energy:

What is the advantage of using wind energy?

Wind energy is a renewable energy source. This means that it is generated constantly and comes from a natural source, which means it doesn’t produce harmful carbon emissions like fossil fuels do. As a result, wind energy plays an important role in helping to reduce Great Britain’s overall carbon footprint.

It’s also cost-effective in the long run. While building wind farms costs money, the ongoing expenses are relatively low, since wind does not cost any money to produce and turbines need little maintenance.

Are there any disadvantages to wind energy?

Like all energy sources, wind power has some limitations. Wind energy relies on consistently strong winds to generate electricity efficiently, so wind farms are usually built in remote locations such as close to the coast or on open land. The only way to connect wind farms to the wider power grid is through the installation of newer infrastructure like power lines, which can be expensive.

While wind farm technology uses a natural, renewable resource, wind can be unpredictable. On calm days, turbines produce less electricity, which means wind energy can’t always be relied on as the sole power source. This is why Great Britain’s energy grid needs to be able to balance supply and demand. Smart meters help to upgrade the energy grid to balance supply and demand by rewarding customers who reduce or shift their usage through certain tariffs or schemes.

Lastly, noise used to be a concern for people living near wind farms, but with advancements in wind farm technology, noise is much less of a problem than in the past.

Can individuals benefit from wind energy?

While large-scale wind farms contribute to the Great Britain’s energy infrastructure, there are also ways for individuals and communities to get involved in generating wind energy.

How can I get a wind turbine?

If you're considering installing a small wind turbine on your property, it’s important to assess whether your location is suitable for one and whether there is enough wind in the area to be a consistent source of energy.

Depending on where you are located, you may need planning permission before installing a wind turbine. There may also be certain rules and regulations you need to adhere to qualify.

Contact your local planning authority for more information.

Alternatively, you could also consider getting involved in a community-owned wind power project. Visit Energy Saving Trust, an impartial and trusted organisation for energy efficiency, to learn more about how to get involved.

Wind farms: how do they work with smart meters?

With the UK's goal to generate a third of electricity from wind farms by 2030, wind farm technology has become a growing part of the nation's renewable energy strategy. But because wind energy is weather-dependent, it's vital to match supply with demand as much as possible.

Smart meters provide households with information about their energy use. They also help energy suppliers understand when and how much energy is being used. A smart meter can enable participation in flexible energy tariffs and schemes. These schemes reward people for moving their energy usage away from peak times, to times when there's more renewable energy, such as on particularly windy days. This helps us take advantage of cleaner, renewable energy, reducing our reliance on excess fossil fuel power stations during peak periods.

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Find out more:

Understanding the energy system in Great Britain

Benefits of smart meters for Great Britain and the environment

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Benefits of smart meters for customers

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All about smart meters