Do wind turbines consume more energy than they produce?
This is a misconception.
Although wind turbines have an environmental impact over their life cycle, this “carbon debt” is quickly offset. A Danish study shows, for example, that a 3 MW Vestas wind turbine accumulates an energy debt of 4,304 MWh over its lifetime. This CO₂ debt is compensated in less than eight months through its green electricity production.
But that’s not all. Wind turbines go far beyond merely offsetting the emissions generated by their production, transport, maintenance, and decommissioning. They actually produce around 25 times more energy than they consume over their entire lifetime.
Sources: Les éoliennes sont écologiques, vrai ou faux ? (engie.be) ; Quelle est l’empreinte CO2 d’une éolienne? (champsdenergie.be)