Wind energy accounts for around 30% of the UK’s total electricity generation, thanks to the country’s strong winds and long coastline (1). Our reliance on wind energy is set to grow under the government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.
This sets out ambitious targets to grow wind energy from a current installed capacity of 29GW to between 43 and 50GW by 2030 (2).
Achieving these targets will bring significant benefits but there are risks that come with the use of renewables. Below will explain some of those associated with the use of wind energy and explain why there is a need for stronger standards within the sector.
1. Aging turbines
Turbines have an average lifespan of 20-25 years, if well installed and properly maintained. This is increasing with some manufacturers giving an average lifespan of 30 years plus (3). As they get older, their output becomes less effective – so any damage can be costly as they become more inefficient. Turbines require varying degrees of reconditioning and refurbishing – from replacement parts to full rebuilds. Aging equipment, such as damage to gears, can be costly to replace and certain failures, such as the short circuiting of equipment, can have even further implications, such as causing fires.
2. Severe weather and weather inconsistency
A £2 million wind turbine collapsed in South Wales in 2022 after 50mph gales made the blades spin uncontrollably (4). Wind turbines are of course designed to operate in winds, however extreme wind speeds that are higher than the maximum operating limit of the turbines result in turbines being shut down and this causes disruption to operations.
Wind turbines also suffer from disruption caused by inconsistency of the wind that’s supplying the farm. Intermittency occurs when wind levels drop and because winds blow at various speeds it’s very hard to predict how much energy can be harvested at any one time.
This intermittency can cause business disruption and so alternative energy reserves are required for the times when there’s little or no wind. These inefficiencies are often unpredictable meaning that it’s difficult to assess the operational risks for insurance purposes.
3. Maintenance issues
Wind turbines are complex pieces of machinery and there’s a lot that can go wrong with them. The turbine blades, generators and gearboxes can often fail – meaning that regular maintenance is very important. However, due to the remote locations of wind farms it can be difficult to carry out maintenance duties. The size and height of the turbines also make maintenance difficult, meaning that wind farms are frequently exposed to the risk of business interruption arising from poorly maintained machinery and cables.
Maintenance and repair to wind turbines is made even more difficult because it’s not always easy to get the parts required. There’s also a shortage of skilled engineers with estimates suggesting the global wind industry will need more than 532,000 additional technicians by 2028 (5). These pressures push up the cost and delivery times for parts so repairs often take longer than expected. Ensuring a realistic indemnity period when purchasing insurance is key in the current economic climate.
4. Theft
Most large scale wind farms are in remote locations which makes theft a serious concern. Copper theft is one of the biggest security concerns for wind turbine owners as it’s so high in value and is relatively easy to strip from the turbine cables. Theft of cables can lead to significant down time and costly repair bills.
This crime is on the increase too. The number of incidents rose dramatically in 2025. By July, 27 thefts from wind farms had been reported 6 across the UK, up from an average of just four or five.
Use of lighting, alarm systems and fencing are important throughout both the construction and operational stages to help prevent thefts – as well as high quality locks and suitable CCTV systems.
5. Circular economy
It’s predicted that as many as 1600 wind turbines will be decommissioned in the UK by 2030, with numbers likely to grow (7) as wind farms continue to increase in number.
Turbines are made of a fibreglass composite material and because of this, it’s not currently cost effective to recycle them.
However, there are many projects underway looking into how these can be reused. For example, there are now companies that recycle turbine blades, using the shredded fibreglass to replace raw building materials (8).
It’s also possible to refurbish turbines and these are often sold at a fraction of the cost of new turbines, and yet still have the potential to perform well for many years.
UK Renewable Energy Live — Wind, Solar & GB Grid Data | UK Grid Live
Wind Turbine Life Span
Clean Power 2030: Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity | Wind Turbine Life Span
Power failure during high winds caused giant £2million wine to spin uncontrollably and collapse | Wind Energy News
Why the Wind Energy Sector Faces a Skills Shortage – AIS Wind Energy
“No Site Is Safe”: Nationwide Copper Theft Threat to UK Wind Farms – DeterTech
Ageing offshore wind turbines could stunt the growth of renewable energy sector – News Centre – University of Kent
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/weather/2022/08/15/what-happens-to-end-of-life-windmill-blades-
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This article was adapted from an article by Allianz which can be found here.